Men stole coats and underwear from Norwich department store

Homeless man Andrew Parker, 32, and Oliver Payne, 37, entered Primark in Norwich and selected a number of items.

Norwich Magistrates Court heard the men made no attempt to pay for the clothing - worth more than £60 - before they left the Haymarket-based store on April 10 this year.

Norwich Magistrates Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Stephen Munton, prosecuting, said the pair were followed by a store detective out of the shop and were seen heading towards the Nando's restaurant in the city.

Police were called and the two men were arrested.

Parker had taken items worth £38, including a jacket and underwear, which were recovered.

Payne had stolen £33 worth of items, including a jacket, which were also recovered by police.

Norwich's Primark store (Image: Newsquest)Parker, of no fixed abode, appeared at court on Thursday when he admitted theft from Primark.

He also admitted stealing £18 worth of vodka from Tesco in London Street in a separate theft on April 8 this year.

Payne, of Bishopbridge House, William Kett Close, Norwich, also appeared in court on Thursday when he also admitted theft from Primark.

Ralph Gillam, mitigating for Parker, said the defendant suffers from mental health problems and has long-standing issues with alcohol and drugs misuse.

He said Parker was homeless at the time and "needed some clean clothes" because of the state his were in.

Mr Gillam said the offences were "symptoms of his personal circumstances" as well as his alcohol and drugs misuse.

Lucy Brakewell, mitigating for Payne, said the offences had been a "blip" for the defendant whose "impatience got the better of him".

She said he took the items from Primark as he "had no clothes" and "needed some clothes to wear".

Parker was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment by magistrates, who also ordered him to pay a £154 victim surcharge.

Payne, who had been in custody for a day, was sentenced to one day's detention, which was deemed to be served.