A PENNILESS teenager resurrected his criminal career and targeted the same store three times to raise money, magistrates were told.

The court heard how Sam Cranfield, 18, paid his first shoplifting visit to Asda, in Harrogate, on June 18, when he tried to steal a £17.48 bottle of whisky.

Cranfield, of Westcliffe Grove, Harrogate, was back in the store three days later.

This time, he stole a £1.28 sandwich and carried out a failed theft attempt later that day.

He had been seen on security camera removing the wrapping from two DVDs, and police arrived to arrest him.

He pleaded guilty to theft and two counts of attempted theft. Prosecutors dropped a criminal damage charge and one of breaching a three-year anti-social behaviour order.

Mike Casey, in mitigation, said Cranfield had not intended to steal the DVDs.

Mr Casey told Harrogate magistrates that Cranfield had been desperate, and tried to go straight following release from prison after he gained "something of a record as a youth".

He told the court that Cranfield had lost his job as a builder's labourer and that he returned to crime when benefit payments were delayed.

He said: "Old habits die hard when you are in desperate straits."

Cranfield was ordered to carry out 85 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs of £70 and compensation of £18.76.

He was also fined £50 when he admitted failing to answer bail.