THE manager of a Southampton shop stole the debit card of a customer who had left it behind after making a purchase.

The man returned to the Burgess Road business shortly afterwards, only to be told by Glyn Williams he had not left it there.

The victim then went to his bank to cancel the card but was told a £50 online payment had been used with it.

Prosecutor Nicholas Cotter said he was still convinced he had forgotten the card at the shop and confronted Williams, demanding to see close circuit television footage. Williams then panicked, broke down and said he had taken it in a moment of madness.”

The card was retrieved from a bin.

Said to have four previous convictions, Williams, 26, of Lower Canal Walk, Southampton, had been committed for sentence by magistrates after admitting theft.

Giving him a nine-month community order, Mr Justice Royce told him: “This is a chance for you. You have been a complete idiot taking the card. You must recognise that.”