A MAN swindled a supermarket out of more than £100 worth of goods after a friend showed him how to cheat the self-serve checkouts, a court heard.

Robert Harker, of Hundens Lane, Darlington, visited Asda in Spennymoor on Friday, September 5, taking £57 worth of stock, before returning on Saturday, September 13, to help himself to another £87.50 worth of items.

Lorraine Cooper, prosecuting, said: “On both occasions similar items were taken. He entered the store and selected the products, headed to the self-serve checkouts, scanned low priced items such as pop and crisps and then pressed the ‘finish and pay’ button.

“He then picked up the higher priced items, such as Lego sets and tinned sweets, pretended to scan them, and put them in the bag. Mr Harker left the store having only paid for the lower priced items.”

Harker, 32, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court (NAMC) yesterday (Thursday 18).

“Somebody showed me how to do it one day last year and for some reason I did it and got away with it,” he said.

“I have no excuses it’s wrong what I did and I’m sorry.”

The case was adjourned until Thursday, January 15.