SHOPLIFTERS are using female swimsuits when they go out stealing in East Lancashire, a court has been told.

A Romanian man was caught shoplifting wearing the latest ‘accessory.

Blackburn magistrates heard the garment had a hole cut in so the thief could place items inside and they would then be held close to his body.

The court was told it was almost standard clothing for Eastern European shoplifters plying their trade in the UK.

Luigi Iulian Iacob, 31, of Deepdale Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to stealing bottles of spirits and toiletries worth £63 from Tesco. He was jailed for 12 weeks.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said when Iacob was arrested he claimed he was wearing the swimsuit as a back support.

“We say it was worn specifically to facilitate the theft,” said Mr Robinson.

He said Iacob had several convictions for shoplifting and going equipped for theft in recent months and at the time of the latest offence was wanted on a warrant for similar offences in Chorley.

Imran Majid, defending, said Iacob had come to the UK in August hoping to find work and support his family back in Romania: “He did have some work for a short while on a building site but since that came to an end he has struggled.”