The son of infamous "lotto gran" Susanne Hinte jumped into a canal to escape police who were chasing him after he turned to a life of crime following his mum's death.
Serial shoplifter Brandon Scott spiralled into a life of drug-taking and criminal behaviour after his mum died in August 2017.
The 25-year-old appeared before Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday and admitted his latest crime as four new thefts. The court heard how Scott had cycled to a local TK Maxx and started packing his rucksack full of unbought clothes.
He then tried to exit with a pair of new trainers after wrapping foil around the security tag but was stopped by security at the door. Security let the crook go not realising his bag was stuffed with clothes, but Scott was soon tailed by local police.
Fearing being caught, Scott dumped his bike and jumped from a bridge onto a canal boat, and then swam to the other side.
Prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said: "There were unusual circumstances. Police followed Mr Scott on his bike along City Walls Road. He tries to evade them. In James Close he jumped onto a canal boat then into the water, swimming across to the other side."
Prosecutor Winterflood added that Scott's escape attempts were in vain as cops managed to catch up with him. He was banned from entering a string of shops last year by Worcester Magistrates Court including Londis, Wilko, Iceland, Waitrose and Tesco.
Judith Hulland, chairman of the magistrates bench, fined Scott £40 and ordered he pay £114 victim surcharge.
Chairman Hulland said: "Don't continue to shoplift. We have been very lenient. If you shoplift again it could be a very different situation in the future in front of another bench."
Judith Kenney, defending, blamed Scott's "chaotic lifestyle" and his lack of anywhere to live for his crimes.
"He is desperate to relinquish this addiction to drugs," Mrs Kenney said. "He is positive (about drug rehabilitation). He thinks that will help him hugely."
Susanne Hinte rose to notoriety in 2016 after falsely claiming she had won half of a £66 million jackpot. She made a failed bid for the mega payout after claiming she'd put the ticket through the washing machine.
She died in August 2017 following a suspected heart attack at her home in Borrowdale Drive, Worcester.
