Former Northumbria Police officer Adrian Ingram, 41, was caught with almost £500-worth of stolen goods stuffed in his bag.

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He told arresting officers "I was silly, I have stolen goods" after the shoplifting spree in York in February.

A judge at Durham Crown Court heard Ingram had been suffering from a bipolar personality disorder for which he was receiving treatment.

Granting him a one-year-conditional discharge, Judge Michael Cartlidge said: "You had a distinguished career in the police force and unhappily now find yourself at court.

"But a mental disorder is not an excuse to get involved in crime."

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said Ingram began shoplifting on July 29 last year, when he was caught on CCTV security cameras stealing groceries worth £6.97 from the Spar supermarket on Duke Street, Darlington.

He was arrested and was immediately suspended on full pay from duty with Northumbria Police.

When on bail for this offence, he travelled from his home in Darlington to York on February 24, where he filled his bag with goods including bottles of spirits and champagne, fine art prints and several MP3 music players.

He quit the force after security guards in HMV York spotted him on the shoplifting spree.

Then on July 16 Ingram stole two bottles of spirits worth £30.38 in total from the Marks and Spencer in Darlington.

Mitigating, Brian Russell said the thefts were caused by Ingram's mental illness, for which he had at first refused to take medication.

"When he was first diagnosed he did not accept it, he thought it was weak and unmanly to be mentally ill and to have to take tablets and he ignored it," Mr Russell said.

"He got into a situation where his illness was not being controlled and his lifestyle was chaotic. He would drink alcohol and this would affect his medication.

"He realises now there is nothing unmanly with taking medication and that unless he manages his illness he will get into further trouble."

Judge Cartlidge ordered Ingram pay £200 towards the £1,500 prosecution costs.

Ingram, who admitted theft, did not wish to comment following the court hearing.

But he told a newspaper in February: "Unlike most people whose good name and pride may be tarnished if they end up in court for an offence of shoplifting - but who can carry on with their lives - mine is in ruins.

"I have lost my job, my pension, my career.

"I served the community for 21 years as a police officer and now I am left with nothing because of a stupid act when I was unwell."