A HOMELESS man so desperate for a roof over his head resorted to stealing a bottle of wine to get back in prison.

David Jeal, aged 28, pleaded guilty before North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges this week to stealing a �6 bottle of wine.

This week he (Jeal) was released from prison and on the same day went to a Cooperative store in Weston to steal alcohol in order to return to custody.

Prosecuting, Karen Grant said: “He went to the isle dealing with alcohol where he selected a bottle of wine.

“He took the screw cap off the bottle, threw it on the floor and left the store.

“Minutes later he came back in the store and he asked ‘are you going to call the police?’.

“The employees said no and he (Jeal) asked ‘what will it take to get the police?’.”

Jeal then took another bottle of wine and left the store. Returning to the shop he put the wine on the counter and waited for the police to turn up.

Defending solicitor Nigel Yeo said: “He was committed to prison as a result of him asking the court to put him in custody for a non-payment.

“He was released and he went to the shop in Weston and committed an offence to get himself arrested.”

Jeal also pleaded guilty to theft of �300 from his ex-partners bank account in May and theft of bottles of beers from his previous employer the Seaward Hotel in Marina Parade at the beginning of July.

Jeal was given a one-year community order and must pay �306.49 in compensation.