AN ALCOHOLIC looking for support for his drinking problem has been fined for stealing a bottle of vodka from Marks & Spencer.

Polish national Tomasz Krych, 45, of Ferndale Road, Swindon, appeared before magistrates in Swindon on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to stealing the £15 bottle of vodka on December 31 last year.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert told the court that Krych had been seen hiding the vodka inside his jacket by the store’s security staff. He left without paying.

Krych later told the police that he had been drinking all day but was unable to recall how much. He said the vodka was for his own consumption.

Defending, Neil Brooker told the court that alcohol had been a problem for Krych for about 10 years. He had had sober periods but more recently it had become a problem again as a result of separating from his wife.

He had tried to attend sessions of Alcoholics Anonymous but as the only sessions conducted in Polish were in Bristol and Reading he found it difficult to get to the meetings.

Mr Brooker told the bench that Krych, who was on a zero hours contract with an agency for cleaning work, would welcome support to address his drinking problem.

Bench chairman Mrs Gibson told Krych, who had an outstanding fine of £65, that he should arrange to claim benefits and pay the fine.

For the theft of vodka he was fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and £20 victim surcharge.