A former Bristol drug user told a court he stole two TV sets because he had lost his job and didn't have enough money to eat.

Denis O'Neill, 20, admitted taking the flat-screen TVs, worth £370, with another man from Asda in Whitchurch.

The court heard that on April 25 at 7.30pm a security guard heard a fire alarm go off in the menswear section of the store.

CCTV footage showed three men taking out five flat-screen TVs and a digital photo frame to the value of £900.

Bristol Magistrates' Court heard that O'Neill, of Amercombe Walk, Stockwood, ran out and threw the TVs into a bush near Airport Road.

He later retrieved them and sold them in a pub near Severn Beach.

But he was identified from the video, and when he was questioned by police, admitted he was one of the men involved.

He told them that he had gone into Asda to steal the most expensive item he could find to make some money because he was "skint".

Defending himself from the dock, O'Neill pleaded guilty, telling the court: "I did this because I lost my job and had no money and wouldn't have anything to eat."

The court heard that he had tested positive for cocaine when he was at the police station.

But O'Neill told the court he had given up drugs two months ago, was living with his mother and siblings and had found another job working.

Sentencing, presiding magistrate Ben Oograh said: "It was in some ways a sophisticated plan. You knew what you were going to do and you were caught on CCTV.

"We are going to give you a community order for 12 months.

"You will carry out 90 hours of unpaid work, reduced to 60 hours for your early guilty plea."

Magistrates also ordered that he pay compensation of £370 for the TVs and £60 costs.