A MAN who found himself homeless and having to steal wine and sausages has turned his life around, a court heard.

Ruslanas Michailovas, 44, lost his job in May and with no income found himself unable to pay rent and ended up on the streets.

He became depressed and began drinking on a daily basis “as a coping mechanism”, Chester Magistrates Court heard today.

The Lithuanian national resorted to begging and stealing, picking up several convictions in the courts as he tried to make ends meet.

This culminated in him stealing three bottles of wine and a pack of sausages from Tesco on Frodsham Street in Chester at 4.30pm on July 20 this year.

Rob Youds, prosecuting, said: “He is picked up on CCTV selecting the items, which he conceals in his backpack with a pack of sausages, and then leaving the store having made no attempt to pay.”

Later the same day Michailovas returned to the same shop and picked out three more bottles of wine. He was challenged by security staff and started shouting and swearing.

“He was saying ‘f*** off, you’re not the police, you can’t touch me!’,” Mr Youds said.

Police officers soon arrested him and in his interview he said he had stolen to feed himself and because he was an alcoholic.

Probation officer Claire Powell told the court that things had gone rapidly downhill for Michailovas since he lost his job.

“What is apparent is that when things go wrong for this gentleman, they go wrong badly,” she said.

“He found himself sleeping homeless on the streets and as a result sought solace in the misuse of alcohol as a coping mechanism.”

Since the offence, he has turned things around and now has accommodation on Park Avenue, Saltney, and has been back at work since August.

Through his own choice, he works 12-hour shifts up to seven days a week, Mrs Powell told the court. He also now only drinks after work on Friday and Saturday nights.

Michailovas also expressed “remorse and regret” for stealing the items from the supermarket.

Magistrates accepted he was trying to get his life back on track and sentenced him to a 12-month community order to include a 35-day rehabilitation activity and 40 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £85 court costs, and £85 victim surcharge and £21.50 to Tesco.