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A HOMELESS thief who stole shampoo from a shop in Hereford city centre has been ordered to pay compensation.

Carl Gwynne, 44, stole Alpecin shampoo from Superdrug in Hereford, magistrates heard earlier this month.

Jack Taylor, prosecuting, said Gwynne took the shampoo, worth £92, on July 17. He told magistrates that Gwynne had an extensive record of previous theft offences.

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Gwynne appeared before magistrates on October 2 to answer for his offence, representing himself in court and entering a guilty plea to one count of theft from a shop.

He told magistrates he was homeless, with no fixed address, and had been unable to find work. He claimed that newspaper coverage of his previous convictions had put employers off hiring him.

Gwynne was ordered to pay compensation of £92 to Superdrug, but was not told to pay any prosecution costs due to his lack of means. He was not handed any further penalty for the offence.