A SHOP assistant challenged a former school mate when he picked up two cases of lager and walked out with them.

The following day, Michael Shanley returned to the same premises in Totton where she told him he was barred. He promptly picked up another case and left with it.

At the time, said prosecutor Richard Wilcox, he was under a suspended sentence.

Shanley, 20, of Beechdale Close, Calmore, admitted two counts of theft and one of failing to surrender to court and being in breach of a four-month sentence imposed for theft.

Judge Christopher Leigh QC spared him prison after reading a report that he had sought medical help for a drink problem and had substantially reduced his intake.

Imposing a three-month curfew, the judge told him: “You have led a charmed life.

Next time it will be off to Winchester.”