SHOPLIFTER Tommy Hogg ignored his court date to be by his dying father's side.

A court at Bury heard how the 22-year-old decided to return to his family home in London after being told that his dad had been diagnosed as terminally ill with liver cancer and had only a few days left to live.

Defending, Miss Joanne Grant explained that Hogg's father had in fact died a short time later and after completing all the funeral arrangements he had then returned to Bury and gave himself up to police as he knew a warrant for his arrest had been issued.

In court Hogg, of Lepp Crescent, Bury, pleaded guilty to theft and also to failing to surrender to his bail.

Prosecuting, Mrs Marion Nolan said that it was in March of this year that Hogg entered the Co-op store. He was seen to take four packets of razor blades, valued at around £35 and then left without paying.

However, a sharp eyed security officer had spotted what was going on and stopped Hogg. At first he claimed not to have taken anything but when a search was carried out, close to where he had been detained, the stolen goods were found.

Mrs Nolan added that in July of last year Hogg had been formally cautioned by police after a similar shoplifting matter at the same store.

Hogg was put on probation for 12 months and ordered to pay £30 court costs.