EXCLUSIVE: SOFT JUSTICE: Man who stole sixteen thousand pound Alligator handbag from shop avoids jai

A MAN has dodged a prison term despite admitting to stealing an alligator-skin handbag worth a whopping more than £16,000.

Alfie Crawley, 49, pleaded guilty to the theft of the handbag worth £16,710 from Loro Piana in Bond Street, London.

It is understood he stole one of the shop's most expensive bags (pictured) called the Milky Way Grande, an Italian-made shoulder bag "crafted from exclusive alligator skin lined in nappa leather."

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard he stole the bag from the luxury store on December 18 2019.

LUXURY: Crawley stole the bag from this shop in Bond Street (LVPH/Twitter)

Magistrates this month sentenced him to 26 weeks in prison, saying the offence was "so serious" and because he has a "record of stealing high value items."

However, they then suspended the sentence for 12 months, meaning he will not go to jail unless he is caught committing any further offences.

Crawley, from Eastnor Road, Greenwich, south London, also has to pay £500 compensation.

It is not clear from the court record if the bag was recovered.