Dozens of people arrested during Monday's rioting and looting are making first appearances at Croydon magistrates court.

The first defendant to appear was Joseph Levy, 41 of Campbell road, Croydon, who pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of alcohol from Somerfield on George Street.

The court heard Mr Levy, who had struggled with class A drugs had been opportunist after seeing the Somerfield store had been smashed up.

He was remanded in custody for sentence.

Two members of the family of Lucien Trufia wept in court as he pleaded guilty to damaging stationery store Staples.

The 29-year-old from Mayo Road, Croydon, said he went to buy cigarettes from a 24-hour store when he went out at 5am on Tuesday.

He was handed a cigarettes by a man outside Staples who said he should go in and help himself.

He was remanded in custody to re-appear next week.

Katie Lovett of Whitehorse Road, Croydon was also arrested outside the Staples store. The court heard the 30-year-old mother of one, walked out of the store telling police she was looking for her aunt.

She was remanded in custody to appear next week to enter her plea.

A 17-year-old boy from Streatham who cannot be named for legal reasons pleaded not guilty to stealing a bicycle worth £240 and resisting a police officer.

The boy's carer was in court when he was remanded in custody to appear in youth court next week.

Another 17-year-old boy from Croydon appeared in court. The boy, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to stealing aftershave and perfume from House of Fraser in Centrale,Croydon.

The court heard he had a "moment of madness" and went and looked inside after seeing people ransacking the store.

The parents of the boy,who has no previous convictions, are "utterly devastated" by his involvement, his lawyer said.

He was remanded in custody to appear on September 1, for sentence.

A 14-year-old girl pleaded guilty to intent to steal products from Argos.

The girl from Shirley who cannot be named, was caught by police inside the store in possession of two cameras and a games console.

Because of her age she could not be remanded in custody and was given a 10 month youth referral order.

The next case was 20-year-old Ohene Banfo.

Mr Banfo is accused of robbery in Morleys Chicken Shop in Norbury as well as violent disorder.

He made no application for bail and will remain in custody until his next appearance.

In South West Magistrates Court 18-year-old Ryan Lyle, of Thornton Heath, appeared in court charged with stealing a Nokia phone from the 3 store, in St John's Road, Battersea.

Mr Lyle, who wore a grey jumper and light grey tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Inner London Crown Court on September 7, where he is expected to stand trial.

Meanwhile, Clifton Virtue, of Arragon Road, Wandsworth, also appeared in court charged with burglary.

The 33-year-old, wearing a green and blue long sleeve polo shirt with white collar and light grey tracksuit bottoms, again spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

He is alleged to have stole cash and stamps worth £100 from The Money Shop during the riots in Norwood High Street in the early hours of yesterday morning.

District Judge Bayne ordered he remain in custody until his appearance next month at Inner London Crown Court, where he is also due to stand trial.