A father who took his five-year-old daughter shoplifting has been warned he faces jail if he steals again.

Steven Etheridge, 36, claims he only resorted to stealing to fund his gambling addiction.

The former South African soldier said he had lost jobs and his partner because of his gambling and had spent two years living in his car because he had no money.

Etheridge, of Colne Walk, Gossops Green, Crawley, admitted four offences of theft when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

Judge Charles Kemp today sentenced him to a 12-month community sentence in order for him to receive help with his gambling addiction. He will be supervised by a probation officer and undertake a Think First programme to help him address his offending.

The judge told him: "You have got to get your life in order. If you succumb to this gambling addiction again and steal again you will go to prison.

"Do not let me or yourself, or more importantly your little daughter, down."

Etheridge replied: "You have my word, your honour."

Etheridge admitted two offences of stealing from Sainsbury's in Crawley. He walked out with full trolleys on both occasions and one time he had 18 bottles of wine. On both occasions he ran off when confronted by security staff and once he was found by police hiding in bushes nearby.

He also admitted two offences of theft from Debenhams in the town.

The court heard Etheridge was accused of driving at security guards who tried to stop him after he walked out of the store with a food mixer and toaster worth £470 in May last year.

Etheridge, who had taken his daughter to the store, was cleared of dangerous driving at a trial at Hove Crown Court in January.

He denied deliberately driving at the security men and told police he was just trying to get away to drop his daughter off and then he intended to sort out the shoplifting allegation. He later gave himself up to police after walking into Crawley police station with the stolen goods.

During the trial he said he bitterly regretted taking his daughter with him.

He also admitted making off without payment of petrol from a service station, at Patcham, Brighton, and fraudulently using an excise licence.

The court heard he has three previous convictions for theft, including stealing items worth nearly £1,000 from Sainsburys while he was working as night shift manager at a store in Hampden Park, Eastbourne. He is currently in breach of a 24 week suspended prison sentence imposed in July last year for the offence.

Fiona Rowling, defending, said Etheridge felt remorse, embarrassment and shame.

She said he had committed no further offences since being housed in November last year.

She said he had sought help with his gambling problem and had been prescribed anti-depressants by his GP.