A THIEF has been stained with a hefty fine after admitting to stealing £3,000 worth of ink cartridges.

Michael Ward, of Sefton Road, Surrey, has been slapped with a fine after pleading guilty to two shoplifting offences.

READ MORE: All the results from court this week

The 19-year-old stole £2,000 worth of ink cartridges from Sainsbury’s in High Wycombe in September 2020.

And on the same day in September last year, the Surrey man stole another £1,000 worth of ink cartridges from Tesco in Newbury.

READ MORE: Car seized after police pull over driver

He appeared at Reading Magistrates Court earlier this month (Tuesday, April 6) after being charged with two counts of theft.

After pleading guilty to both charges, the 19-year-old was forced to cough up £359 in fines, which he must pay by next month.