A THIEF has been handed a drug rehabilitation order after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of goods, including underwear, dog toys and candles.

Ralph Arundale entered guilty pleas to five counts of theft from a shop when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in July.

The court heard from prosecutor Thomas Wickstead that the 44-year-old had stolen a hat, a T-shirt and a pack of underwear worth £31.98 from the Factory Shop in Leominster, meat worth £130 and tw candles and a diffuser worth £32 from Sainsburys in Ludlow, Kong toys worth £51 from Pets at Home in Ludlow, and four jars of coffee worth £25 from One Stop in Ludlow.

ALSO READ:

The thefts had all taken place between January 26 and July 11, the court heard.

Arundale, who is of Milton Road, Ludlow, was given a 12-month community order. He must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and attend up to 15 days of rehabilitation activities.

He was ordered to pay compensation to each of the shops for the full value of the stolen items. He was not ordered to pay prosecution costs or a victim surcharge as the magistrates wanted to prioritise compensation.