A TEENAGE immigrant who was lured to the UK with the promise of work was exploited into a life of crime, a court heard.

Mariel Nita had moved from his home country of Romania to find work, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard.

But Sarah Mackay, prosecuting, said the 18-year-old was caught trying to flee from the Asda store in Wheatley with a rucksack full of £172.50 worth of goods.

She told the court Nita together with an unknown accomplice had gone into the superstore at 11.30am on Saturday and were spotted on CCTV putting bottles of spirits into a trolley.

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She added: “They were seen to place the items into a black rucksack within the trolley.

“They also appeared to be covering the bag after each bottle was placed inside.”

But the pair were stopped by security, and while his accomplice fled, Nita, of Mount Road, Hayes, London, was arrested.

Nita admitted one count of theft when he appeared in the dock before magistrates yesterday.

Christopher Lewis, defending, said his client had been lured to the UK under false pretences with the promise of work that never materialised.

He added: “He has only been in the country for two weeks.

“I suspect he has been taken advantage off.

“He has no money. That was the motivation behind his offending, to sell the items to get himself some money.”

Nita was handed a six-month conditional discharge, but presiding magistrate Collin Allum told him that if he had not admitted the theft he would have faced a stronger sentence.