A TEENAGE thief swore at Plymouth magistrates as they sentenced him to unpaid work – instead of jail.

Jobless Jed Crisp told the bench: "I ain't doing that", before kicking the courtroom door as he stormed out in a rage.

The 19-year-old had just been told he was lucky to escape a prison sentence for adding to his criminal record by stealing booze and sportswear.

Crisp, from Pennycross, was escorted from the building by security guards following the outburst, in which he aimed an expletive at the magistrates who had just spared him a jail term.

The hoodie-wearing teen had been in the dock to admit stealing beer from a city Costcutter store on October 2 last year.

The court heard how about £5 worth of booze had gone missing from the shop at around 8.40pm that evening.

Crisp also pleaded guilty to making off from city centre JD Sports with an Adidas fleece worth £50.

The daylight theft from the New George Street store took place at around 3pm on November 27 last year, the court was told.

Magistrates were told how Crisp had a lengthy criminal record, but had only been caught thieving on four previous occasions.

The court heard how he led a "chaotic lifestyle" of regular valium and cannabis use – and that he was at extra risk of committing crimes when drunk.

But his solicitor Tracey Baker said Crisp had pleaded guilty to both thefts at the earliest opportunity and was on a waiting list for an apprenticeship.

And Probation officer Charles Casey said: "It would appear he has engaged well."

Mrs Baker told magistrates: "He has come to court today knowing that the court may take the view that he doesn't appear to be a young man who is eager to engage."

She had argued against a sentence of unpaid work, saying it would be "setting him up to fail".

But magistrates, after 15 minutes of deliberation, rejected her argument yesterday.

They opted to revoke an existing order against Crisp and enforce a new, two-year community order. It includes a two-year supervision requirement, 60 hours of unpaid work and forces Crisp, of Mylor Close, to attend the Thinking Skills Programme.

Chairman of the bench Dr Jim Copper told him: "We have considered the possibility of a custodial sentence and we have decided not to impose that.

"[This punishment] is to recognise the seriousness of the offences that have been committed, but also to try to offer you a way through for the future."

But on hearing of the unpaid work element, Crisp replied angrily: "I ain't doing that."

Warned he could be back before the court within a week for breaching the order if he failed to carry out the work, he said: "To be honest with you, I don't care.

"I'm not doing unpaid work. See you next week."

Crisp, who stormed out of the courtroom as security guards were alerted, was also ordered to pay £5 compensation within 14 days.