STEALING a Cornish pastie from an Ely supermarket turned out to be a very expensive snack for Ashley Bowen, when he was landed with a court bill for �65.

A customer at Tesco tipped off a security staff after seeing Bowen making off with the �1 stolen pastie, and he was stopped outside the Angel Drove store.

“He was patted down, and when his top was patted, the pastie fell out and he ran away,” Ely magistrates heard from prosecutor Laura Mardell.

“He was identified from CCTV footage.”

Bowen, 20, of Allen Road, Ely, admitted stealing the pastie on June 3.

“It was just a stupid mistake, since I got out of prison last time I have stayed out of trouble,” he told the court. “I feel ridiculous for being here.

“I had been drinking with my mates, I don’t usually drink because I end up doing something stupid.”

Fining Bowen �25 and ordering him to pay �25 costs and a �15 surcharge, presiding magistrate Maggie Holling told him: “This is going to prove to be a very expensive Cornish pastie. You have an unenviable record, I am sure you are aware of that.”