A wheelchair bound cancer sufferer stole meat as he couldn't afford to feed his ten children a family meal, a court heard.

Christopher Williams pinched the food while out shopping with his wife and daughter, who sufferers from learning difficulties, at Morrisons in Ellesmere Port.

The father-of-ten, who has cancer of the blood, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a lung condition which makes it hard to breathe - said he stole the meat, worth £34.71, for a planned family meal later that day.

But Williams, who appeared before Chester Magistrates Court today (Friday, December 5) in a wheelchair attached to an oxygen tank, has 145 offences to his name, including 23 previous convictions for thefts.

The 62-year-old, who needs to be attached to an oxygen tank 15 hours a day due to his lung condition, pleaded guilty to the theft and said he was 'embarrassed' and 'utterly ashamed' for what he had done.

Williams, who has already racked up £6,000 of court fines, said it was 'his idea' to steal the meat which he failed to scan through the self checkout till during the incident on October 11 this year.

Staff at Morrisons spotted the family, from Saltney Terrace, Saltney, who were known from a previous incident in the store, and asked them to go with security, but they refused and left.

Williams, who was arrested shortly after the incident, was taken to hospital after saying he was experiencing breathing difficulties - he then failed to surrender to police bail and was arrested almost a month later at his family home.

But Damian Sabino, defending, said Williams had simply forgotten the date as he had "a head full of pills" due to his ailments.

"He is the father of ten children, three under the age of 18 and one with severe learning difficulties. He feels utterly ashamed."

Williams, who pleaded guilty to failing to surrendering to bail, was handed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £40 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.