'No one could quite believe a bloke like him, with all that money, would be moronic enough to nick a toilet seat'

This article is more than 13 years old

This article is more than 13 years old

The Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson stunned onlookers in at B&Q in Dartford, Kent, yesterday when he was caught trying to steal bathroom fittings.

Despite reportedly earning £30,000 a week, Johnson - currently on loan from Chelsea - was spotted by a security guard putting a toilet seat into a box with a cheaper price tag. Aided by Millwall striker Ben May, he also hid a set of taps underneath a sink at the checkout to avoid paying for them. Both were handed £80 on the spot fines by police.

"We all recognised Johnson," said one worker at the store. "No one could quite believe a bloke like him, with all that money, would be moronic enough to nick a toilet seat. But that's what him and May were doing.

"They were spotted by one of our security guards, a chap of 74, and cops arrived as they were trying to leave. They seemed to find the whole thing funny and couldn't stop smirking even after they had been arrested."

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Kent Police arrested two 22-year-old men on Wednesday on suspicion of theft in Dartford. Both men have been issued with £80 fixed penalty notices."

Spokesmen for Portsmouth and Millwall declined to comment.