A THIEF who was caught with drugs, attacked a woman, and caused criminal damage has been handed a suspended sentence after committing a string of offences.

Shane Pickersgill entered a guilty plea to four counts of theft from a shop, one count of obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of their duties, one count of criminal damage, one count of assault by beating, and one count of possessing a controlled class B drug when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in September.

The court heard from prosecutor Mark Hambling that the 31-year-old, who was represented at the hearing by defence solicitor Edmund Middleton, had wilfully obstructed a police officer, assaulted a woman by beating, and had been in possession of a quantity of cannabis in Hereford on August 21, and had intentionally or recklessly caused criminal damage to a window in Hereford on June 10.

ALSO READ:

He had also stolen clothing worth £25 from Hereford's Morrisons supermarket on June 8, two fragrances, worth £49.98 from Savers in Hereford and three bottles of spirits, worth £96, from Tesco in Hereford on July 28 and items worth £12.03 from Aldi in Ross-on-Wye on August 11.

Pickersgill, of Brampton Road, Ross-on-Wye, was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for six months, with magistrates saying they had taken his guilty plea into account when imposing the penalty.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £25 to Morrisons, and £12.03 to Aldi.

No order was made for costs to be paid due to his means.