HAMPSHIRE'S meanest thief has apologised for stealing toys destined for sick children in hospital over Christmas.

In a letter to the Daily Echo, the brazen crook - dubbed The Grinch after the miserable green creature who stole an entire town's Christmas presents - says he is sorry for taking the teddies.

He has also delivered a huge sack of new presents to the takeaway where he stole the gifts from under the noses of staff and in the full glare of CCTV cameras.

The thief reveals he has gone into hiding but police today urged him to give himself up.

Read his letter of apology

To whom it may concern I am the person who was in Pizza hut on Sunday night and took those little kids toys.

I thought I'd let you know that it was not intended, it was done in the spare of the moment, I was very drunk and there is no way I would take a sick child's toy knowing full well what I was doing.

This letter really is not a cover up but I was just want you and members of the public and those poor little children to know that I am very very sorry.

Seeing myself in the Daily Echo has made me realise that this was no joke and was way out of line. I have little nieces and nephews of my own and I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if it was them in hospital and someone had done the same as me.

I have sent some toys to Pizza hut to replace the one's I took and more. I have gone away for a few days to get my head round things, to be quite honest I don't think I can face anyone after how serious this has turned out to be.

I can't walk down the street without people looking at me thinking I'm a sick malicious person. When I get my head round things I will be handing myself into the police.

I am so ashamed of what I have done - it was a laugh at the time but now I feel sickened and embarrassed. I'm so so sorry, if there's anything I can do I would be more than happy.