Shoe thief who didn't have leg to stand on

Fed up of having to fork out for two size nines when he only needed one, Phil Moore helped himself to a lone Nike trainer from a display stand at Sports Direct, and scarpered on his crutches.

Police followed the 48-year-old amputee through Barnsley town centre before arresting him just as he was about to hop on a bus.

The father-of-two was fined 65, and ordered to pay 100 court costs by magistrates at Barnsley.

Moore – who lost his left leg to septicaemia seven years ago – said: "I know I shouldn't have done it – but people like me are being ripped off all the time by the shoe companies and all the big retailers.

"I've written to Nike and Adidas explaining that I didn't need a left shoe and asking if they'd sell me just one trainer instead of two but they weren't interested and told me that I had to buy a pair like everyone else."

He said: "I shouldn't have stolen the shoe – I realise that now. But I only did it because it seemed so unfair having to fork out 52.99 for a pair when I only wanted one."

The former engineer hasn't been able to work since surgeons amputated his leg above the knee at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital in 2003. Complications after surgery mean he still has to use crutches.