A SERIES of unfortunate events including a toilet accident led to a thief stealing a pair of jeans from a town centre shop.

During a trip to Colchester where Ian Drummond was under post-sentencing supervision for an earlier offence, he stole a pair of £85 jeans from Debenhams.

Drummond, of Coventry Road, Bedford, admitted to stealing from the Culver Square store, when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

Ian Allen, prosecuting, told the court Drummond, 47, had no money and needed to replace his trousers.

He had left the store with the stolen item which was later recovered once Drummond was detained.

However, Stephen Moriaty, mitigating, explained the ill-timed events leading up to the theft on March 1.

Mr Moriaty said: “He’s not a drug addict or an alcoholic.

“He lost his wallet and bank card and had a toilet accident, hence the need for new jeans and the visit to Debenhams when he was stopped.”

Drummond was last seen at magistrates’ court in January for shop theft and given a community order, which has now expired.

During mitigation, the court heard Drummond was “unhappy” about being there and has a “slight personality disorder” which causes him to do inappropriate things.

Mr Moriaty added: “He hasn’t got the absolute best record in the world but is someone who would prefer not to be in court.”

Magistrates were sympathetic towards his misfortune but nonetheless ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, and pay £170 court costs and victim surcharge.

Chairman of the bench, Anthony Ealden, said: “I hear you’ve had some misfortune but shops have to be protected from having items stolen.

“Every time you come into court now, your sentence is going to increase until you go back to prison.”