A SHOPLIFTER from Exmoor was found with a bizarre arsenal of weapons in his car when he was caught by the police.

Pensioner Edward Wright had an CS gas canister, an axe, a machete, an extendable baton, a sharpened screwdriver and two kitchen knives in the boot of his car.

Police found the weapons when they stopped him in Tudy Street, Barnstaple, on February 25 because he had been seen shoplifting at Boots and Tesco four days earlier.

Wright, aged 73, of Lanacre, Withypool, near Minehead, admitted two counts of theft and seven of having offensive weapons in a public place when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

He denied having a baseball bat and a blank firing starting pistol and these cases will not be pursued.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC adjourned his sentence until later this month, ordered a probation report, and released Wright on bail.

He said:"I need to know what this was all about. He is 73 and has had no convictions since 1982. I looks like an unusual story."

Richard Crabb, defending, said Wright lives on Exmoor and works part time on a farm. He said some of the items were things he used in his work.

He said:"He is the sole carer for his wife and I hope to be able to provide more details of her medical condition. He uses some of these items when he is farming but he should not have taken them to Barnstaple."