A drunk shoplifter stole a frozen pie before going into a chippy and harassing staff for ketchup – so he could eat the icy pastry.

Paul Alexander Walls, of Warkworth Drive in Ellesmere Port, also pestered staff to exchange a packet of fish fingers for a hot portion of chips during the bizarre incident in Ellesmere Port.

Police found the 41-year-old ‘blind drunk’ and haggling with takeaway staff for red sauce so he could eat the icy and uncooked pie he had just stolen from the shop next door.

Walls mixed taking morphine with strong lager before stealing £7.99 worth of frozen food from the Loxdales Local Store on August 4 this year.

The incident was described as ‘comical’ during a hearing at Chester Magistrates Court today (Friday, September 26).

Walls, who has a lengthy criminal record with 70 previous offences to his name, was challenged by staff when he left the convenience store but denied taking any items, the court heard.

Rob Youd, prosecuting, said that staff at the shop checked their CCTV and saw him putting the items into his coat, before heading outside – when they went after him they were shocked to find him in the chip shop next door.

“He had gone into the fish and chip shop and was trying to get the owner to exchange the stolen fish fingers for some chips,” said Mr Youds, who said Walls became aggressive and the police were called.

“He was blind drunk and couldn't remember much about the incident.”

Mr Howard Jones, defending, said that to some extent the incident was “quite comical” saying that following the incident police had reported that Walls had tried to eat a frozen pie.

“He had stolen a frozen pie from the store and then gone next door to ask them to put tomato sauce on it, so he could eat it,” said Mr Jones, who said when police searched Walls he had fish fingers on him.

But Walls could hardly remember anything about the incident after drinking strong lager while taking morphine, as he was unable to cope with the news he would have to have his leg amputated, said Mr Jones.

Walls, who has a ‘skin eating disease’, has had 19 operations for numerous skin grafts to be placed on his leg after getting a piece of glass stuck in his leg while working in a glass recycling factory.

“He got it in his leg and it got infected,” said Mr Jones.

“He was told in December they couldn't do anymore to save his leg, he will have to have it amputated in the coming months.

“Because of his illness he has got morphine, on occasions he mixes it with drink. There are times when he is at a low ebb.”

Walls, handed himself in at Blacon Police Station last night (September 25) after failing to attend court for a previous hearing on August 27.

He pleaded guilty to one count of theft and one count of failing to surrender to court bail at the appointed time.

Magistrates fined Walls £100 for the theft and ordered him to pay £20, but the £100 fine was wavered for the time spent in custody.