A thief who stole ten cans of cider from a supermarket had drunk most of it by the time police caught up with her.

Hollie Bridges pinched £12 worth of booze from the Sainsbury's in Tunbridge Wells and was found by officers downing the cans in a nearby park.

A sales assistant spotted the 40-year-old take the alcohol without paying on the store's CCTV footage and the police were contacted.

Bridges, of Connaught Place, Linden Fields, Tunbridge Wells, was spotted some time later in a park and had already drunk most of the cans.

She was arrested and later charged with shoplifting.

Bridges admitted the offence when she appeared before Medway Magistrates' Court.

Debbie Jones prosecuting said: "Police located her in a park drinking it and she had already consumed most of it.

"During interview she made no comment and didn't want to watch the CCTV footage."

Magistrates were told she committed the offence on August 2 last year while serving a suspended sentence she'd been give for another offence.

The court also heard Bridges had in recent times broken her back and was on strong medication.

Magistrates decided to adjourn sentencing for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Bridges.

She will be sentenced at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on March 20 and was granted bail until then.