A shoplifter who attacked staff at a Tesco store when they tried to stop him leaving has been ordered to pay compensation. 

Paul Marriott, 38, claimed to have been paid by others to repeatedly steal alcohol from the Stalham branch of the supermarket in March. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told members of the public had to intervene when he had become aggressive and started assaulting members of staff when he stopped trying to steal booze worth £225. 

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Marriott, of Bank Street in Stalham, who has 12 previous convictions for 20 offences, pleaded guilty to three counts of shop theft and assault by beating.  

Maya Lal, mitigating, said he had no recollection of the incident and had been “ashamed” when shown his actions on CCTV.

“He has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol,” she added.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £100 compensation to store staff and reimburse the cost of the stolen items. 

He is also required to complete 15 rehabilitation days and alcohol abstinence monitoring as part of a 12 month community order.