A THIEF has avoided being sent straight to prison after stealing a whopping £2,000 worth of goods from a Hereford Tesco supermarket.

Christopher Mongan entered a guilty plea to one count of theft from a shop when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in December.

The court heard from prosecutor Melanie Winterflood that the 21-year-old had, together with two other people, stolen electric tooth brushes and tips, nicotine gum and spray, and various medications from Hereford's Belmont Road Tesco supermarket on December 6.

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Their haul of stolen goods came to a total of £2,601.25, magistrates were told.

Magistrates said the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified due to the high value of goods stolen and Mongan's record of similar offending, but that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation due to change in family circumstances.

Mongan, who was represented by defence solicitor Barry Newton and who is of Frederick Road in Stechford, Birmingham, was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay prosecution costs of £60.