A thief who stole alcohol from a supermarket has been barred from entering any Tesco store until next month. 

Alexandru Carstina, of Winchester Road in Highams Park, was caught shoplifting by a security guard at Tesco superstore in Beckton's Gallions Reach retail park on Sunday.

At around 3.10pm, the guard monitoring the CCTV picked up Carstina and started following him on the cameras for around 10 minutes. 

He was seen bending down and picking up four bottles of vodka worth £130 from his shopping basket, and then stuffing them inside his jacket.  

Yesterday, Thames Magistrates Court heard how the 20-year-old Romanian national failed to make off with the goods after being detained by staff at the exit. 

Defending Carstina, duty solicitor Ms Omenulorg said: "He tried to steal the items so he could sell them on and send money back to his family who are struggling in Romania. 

"He has been in the UK for only three months and is finding it very hard to find work." 

Carstina pleaded guilty to one count of theft and has been given conditional bail to reside at his Highams Park flat and not to enter any Tesco store. 

He will be sentenced at Thames Magistrates Court on November 6.