A SHOPLIFTER who escaped from a police van ended up being charged with stealing the handcuffs he was wearing, a court heard yesterday.

Officers left Anthony Mark Wilks in the van while they went to arrest two other suspects, after he was caught taking a computer game from the Virgin Megastore, in Middlesbrough.

But Patricia Mancina, prosecuting, said the 30-year-old managed to flee from the van and made his way to Stockton, where he slipped the cuffs off. Realising the futility of his escape, he later gave himself up, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Shaun Grainger, for Wilks, said his client was completing a community punishment order.

Wilks, of Howe Street, Middlesbrough, admitted two charges of theft and one of escape.

Judge Michael Taylor said Wilks had a bad record for dishonesty and jailed him for three months.