A Lampeter man who tried to steal three bottles of lager from a supermarket told police that a voice in his head told him to do it.

Oliver Winston David Griffiths, of Flat 8, Y Deri, North Road, pleaded guilty to theft from the Co-op on 5 November. He was banned from the store at the time

Prosecutor Ceri Ellis-Jones said Griffiths had spoken to a check-out operator at the store about putting electricity on a pay-as-you go card.

He was told he would need to go to a kiosk, but when he went to the kiosk and paid for the electricity, he didn’t pay for bottles of lager he had picked up.

Griffiths, 38, was searched as he left the store and the bottles, worth £6.75, were found in a carrier bag.

He admitted he had not paid for the bottles and said a voice in his head had told him to take them.

Ms Ellis-Jones said that Griffiths has no previous convictions for theft, but was banned from the Co-op store at the time.

Defence solicitor Janem Jones said Griffiths did co-operate with police and admitted the theft immediately.

She said the items were low value and recovered, and questioned why police did not give Griffiths, who has mental health issues, a conditional caution for the offence.

Magistrates imposed a six-month conditional discharge, and ordered Griffiths to pay costs of £106.