A brazen shop thief was caught trying to sell his stolen loot just yards from the store he'd taken it from.
Craig Armstrong was captured on CCTV making-off with Nivea creams from Wilko, in North Shields, one afternoon earlier this year.
And it didn't take long for officers to track the 40-year-old down as he was found trying to flog the goods close to the entrance of the shop, magistrates heard.
Now, the career crook, who has 85 offences on his lengthy criminal record, already owes more than £5,500 to the courts and was on a suspended sentence at the time, has been given yet another chance after he pleaded guilty to one count of shop theft.
Prosecutor, Sue Baker, said Armstrong and a female came to the attention of staff in Wilko after they were seen acting suspiciously.
Mrs Baker added: "They contacted police. The police looked at CCTV then went looking for the defendant.
"He was not far away - he was on a bench nearby trying to sell the stolen Nivea creams."
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard that the goods, worth £10, were recovered.
Tom Iceton, defending, said Armstrong, of Queen Street, North Shields, apologised for his behaviour and had pleaded guilty straight away.
The solicitor added: "On the day in question, he had been to a funeral. There was some drinks afterwards - there shouldn't have been but there was.
"He was then with friends who were taking illicit drugs and they spiked his drink."
Magistrates gave Armstrong a 12-month conditional discharge and he must pay a £22 victim surcharge.
As he left the dock, he said: "Cheers, you're a diamond."
