Two Romanian men claimed they came to Pembrokeshire to look for work when they became involved with the theft of more than £1,000 of alcohol.

Valentin-Marian Florin Constantin, 33, of Chadwell Heath, Romford, and Andrei Radulescu, 18, of High Road, Romford, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged with joint theft from a shop on Tuesday.

Both had previously entered not guilty pleas, but changed their pleas to guilty when they appeared via video link from Swansea Prison.

The court heard that the pair were captured on CCTV in Tesco Pembroke Dock with Catalin Nitu, who has already been sentenced for the offence, on November 12.

Nitu filled a trolley with various bottles of alcohol worth £1,170 and Radulescu and Constantin were described as keeping watch at the end of the aisle, then left the store shortly after him.

The bottles were found in Catalin’s car when police stopped them, and they stated they were in the area looking for work.

Mike Kelleher, defending, said Constantin and Radulescu picked up Nitu on their way to Pembrokeshire and did not know him beforehand.

He added that his clients had not taken the alcohol, but panicked and ‘turned a blind eye’.

Constantin was sentenced to 13 weeks in custody and Radulescu was sentenced to 10 weeks in a young offenders' institution.

Both were ordered to pay £390 compensation to the store, plus £85 costs and a £115 surcharge.

A depravation order was made for the Vauxhall Astra used in the crime and Constantin was disqualified from driving for 18 months.