London:
An Indian-origin millionaire in Britain was sentences to 12 months of community service by a court after being found guilty of shoplifting 200 pounds worth of meat and wine in a supermarket.
Ronan Ghosh, 39, was shopping at the Tesco outlet in Birmingham, West Midlands, on February 21 and he only paid for the items in his trolley but did not pay for the items he kept in his bag, a court heard.
He was spotted on the store's security cameras stowing away the expensive items. He was detained by a guard and police were called, the Daily Mail reported.
Mr Ghosh, who lives in a luxurious house in leafy Solihull, pleaded guilty to theft at the Birmingham Crown Court.
He claimed in the court that he had visited the store after an argument with his girlfriend and he had not intended to steal the goods.
Charnjit Jutla, the defence lawyer, told the court that Mr Ghosh is the director of RG Recycling Company that supplies high-value machinery for the recycling industry.
"It is a global business. It has a yearly turnover of 16 million pounds," Mr Jutla was quoted as saying. "It beggars belief as to why he finds himself in this court. He accepts full responsibility for what he has done."
Mr Jutla said Mr Ghosh was "disappointed with himself and shocked and embarrassed".
The defence lawyer told the court that on the day in question, Mr Ghosh's father told him that his mother had been diagnosed with skin cancer and that worried him a lot.
Mr Jutla said there was also a will being discussed within the family which had put considerable strain on Mr Ghosh.
Judge Murray Creed sentenced the businessman to a 12-month community service. He was also ordered to complete 80 hours' unpaid work and pay 575 pounds in costs.