A promising young rugby star who robbed a Sainsbury’s to feed his gambling addiction has avoided a jail sentence.

Former London Wasps Brett Williams, 20, barged into a cashier before plunging his hand into a till after losing more than £500 he had stolen from his stepfather on January 26 this year.

Croydon Crown Court heard cashier Heather O’Boyle screamed as she was pushed aside by the powerfully-built forward, before running and hiding under a nearby checkout as he raided her till in the supermarket in Worcester Park.

Williams, from Creston Way, Worcester Park, was chased from the store by the manager but was eventually found hiding in a bush in a graveyard.

The court heard he is still part of Premiership side Wasps’ academy but has been turning out for historic Roehampton side Rosslyn Park – former club of England players Danny Cipriani, Nick Easter and Martin Offiah – to gain more first team experience.

Judge John Tanzer, sentencing, said the 20-year-old was “capable of making something of himself”.

He said: “It wasn’t premeditated, there was no great force used. The most that you did in fact was push the cashier so you could get into the till.”

Williams was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.