BRITAIN'S most stylish shoplifter who nabbed designer clothes has been spared jail - after he was caught trying to steal sunglasses from Tesco.

Trendy Dragos Patrunjel swiped high-end gear worth £1,100 from Hugo Boss and stole items totalling £300 from Tommy Hilfiger, and £160 from Calvin Klein.

6 Britain's most stylish thief stole designer clothing worth thousands

The 23-year-old also took clothes worth around £100 from Gant and £60 from Armani but his crime spree came to a halt when he tried taking sunglasses from Tesco.

Security staff at the supermarket discovered a device used to remove tags from clothing and when cops raided his home, they discovered a stash of stolen designer goods.

Patrunjel, who wore a stylish camel-coloured coat and dark trousers to Swindon Magistrates' Court today, has avoided jail after admitting seven charges of theft.

The court was told he grew up in Italy and the country's reputation for fashion had "rubbed off on him".

6 The Italian swiped Hugo Boss, Armani and Calvin Klein clothing

6 Btu he was caught after trying to steal sunglasses from Tesco

6 Patrunjel grew up in Italy

On his Facebook page, Patrunjel wrote: "Style is a deeply personal expression of who you are, and every time you dress, you are asserting a part of yourself."

Another post said: "I do think that you can dress yourself out of a problem.

"The way that a haircut and a new pair of pants can make you feel is better than any therapist, because when you look in the mirror, you see a different person - you are a different person.

6 Patrunjel has avoided jail after admitting seven counts of theft

6 He swiped the clothes using a de-tagging device

"It's superficial change that can lead to real change."

But Ben Worthington, defending, said after watching a YouTube video showing how clothes can be de-tagged, "greed got the best of him".

He added: "He tried to get himself some nice clothes but didn't have the money to afford them.

"He grew up in Italy and I daresay that's rubbed off on him a bit - as you can see today, he's quite well-dressed.

"He regrets what happened and wants to put the situation behind him."

The court heard the designer clothes had been returned to the McArthurGlen designer outlet in Swindon, so Patrunjel did not have to pay compensation.

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Twitter users have dubbed him "Britain's best-dressed thief".

A probation officer said: "He said he's incredibly ashamed, he doesn't know what he was thinking, it was a stupid, ridiculous mistake, and it wasn't worth it."

Patrunjel was told he must carry out must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work over the year, and must also pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

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