A migraine suffer stole from a Cardigan shop in a moment of 'absent-mindedness', a court has heard.

Eco farmer Nigel Lishman, aged 56, of Plas Helyg, Ty’r Gafael, Glandwr, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop on May 20, when he appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates on Wednesday.

The court heard that members of staff at LBS Builders Merchants viewed CCTV footage after they became aware that a mobile phone holder, valued at £8.57, was missing.

Lishman was seen to pick up the item and appear to conceal it, before failing to pay for it at the till when he made other purchases.

On May 30 he returned to the store to pay for the item.

David Folland, prosecuting, said: “When the theft was discovered he does do the honourable thing.”

During a police interview Lishman stated he assumed he had paid for the item, and put it out of his mind, adding he had taken a large amount of medication for a migraine that day.

He told police he must have picked up the item in an absent-minded way, and had not intended to steal it.

Katy Hanson, defending, said her client, who was previously of clean character, was ‘extremely embarrassed’ to find himself in court, and showed genuine remorse.

She added: “For a number of years he has suffered from severe headaches and stress. On the morning of this incident he had taken a number of tablets which may have affected him.”

Magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered Lishman to pay a £50 contribution towards court costs, and a £15 victim surcharge.

The presiding magistrate said: “I feel sure we will not see you in court again.”