A 50-year-old man has admitted five shop thefts totalling more than £1,100, including the theft of eight bottles of Champagne from a BP service station in Essex.
Scott Allaker, of Beech Avenue, Brentwood, was stopped by roads policing officers in London Road, Wickford, on 11 October, shortly after police received reports of a theft at BP in Hutton Mount.
Officers searched his car and found eight bottles of Champagne and a bottle of Prosecco, Southend magistrates were told the following day.
Allaker pleaded guilty to five counts of shop theft covering incidents between 8 August and 11 October.
The thefts took place at three BP service stations – in Ingrave Road, Herongate, Hutton Mount and on the A13 at Orsett Cock – as well as a Tesco store in Hanging Hill Lane, Brentwood.
The stolen goods included meat, wine, Prosecco and Champagne, with a total value of £1,117.55.
The court remanded Allaker on conditional bail ahead of his sentencing hearing on 25 November.
As part of his bail conditions, he is prohibited from entering any BP, B&Q, Sainsbury’s or Tesco store in Essex and Suffolk.