A CHECKOUT assistant at a wholesale warehouse hit on a way of getting goods for free over the Internet after an absent-minded customer left his wallet behind, a court heard yesterday.

Alan Rutherford used details from the customer's bank card to order a string of items over the Internet, targeting Argos Direct for the bulk of his "purchases", Rodney Noon, prosecuting, told magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Rutherford, 23, got nearly £400 worth of electrical items, including a mini-disc player, shredder and a printer before he decided to extend his activities.

He made notes of credit card numbers and expiry dates from other customers and used them to obtain goods, including laptop computers, valued at £4,397 from the same company.

Rutherford, of Byland Road, Bilton, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and one of attempted theft and asked for seven more similar offences to be considered.

His solicitor, David Camidge, said Rutherford had an appointment with a psychiatrist and his report, along with one from the probation service, ought to be studied before he was sentenced.

The hearing was adjourned until March 20 and Rutherford was bailed, but warned that all sentencing options, including prison, would be considered.