A teenager who plans to join the Army stole from a shop for a joke, a court heard.
John Clugston, 18, of Ashton Rise, Brighton, walked out of the MVC store in Air Street, Brighton, holding a Star Wars video trilogy set above his head to avoid setting off the security alarm sensors in the doorway.
Outside he put the £31.99 set on the ground and walked away.
Clugston admitted a charge of theft at Brighton Magistrates Court and was given a three-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs.
Steve Wedd, defending, said Clugston had stolen the videos as a dare to see if he could avoid the alarm.
He said: "He did it for a joke."
Mr Wedd said Clugston was very proud to have been accepted as an infantry soldier.
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