A Hereford thief who had the 'bottle' to try and hide two litres of vodka down his trousers narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Lance Darren Sperry pleaded guilty to a string of shoplifting offences across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The magistrates heard how Sperry, fuelled by a desire for money to buy drugs, carried out six thefts against high street stores over a six week period.

Among the items he snatched were a baby dress from Boots, a leather belt from British Home Stores and a sweatshirt from Marks and Spencer.

On April 5, he entered Somerfield in Leominster and stole two bottles of vodka, which he tried to secrete within his trousers.

When arrested, he told police that he travelled to the town to meet his girlfriend and needed to raise money for his bus fare home.

He also admitted to trying to obtain cigarettes from a Hereford petrol station with a stolen credit card.

In mitigation, the court was told that Sperry, of Bridge House, Belmont Road, Hereford, had a 'long-standing' drug problem and his life had got 'stuck in a rut'.

Acknowledging that the 31-year-old had been clear of drugs for seven weeks, the magistrates sentenced him to 60 hours of community service and 12 months' probation.