A FORMER soldier has admitted trying to steal a DVD box set worth £49.99 from HMV in Worcester city centre to pay for cigarettes and food.

Russell Hawkes of Chedworth Drive appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to the offence on January 22.

Prosecutor Claire Linehan told the court the 34-year-old had been seen taking the DVDs by security officers .

“He stole it to sell and that would have been to buy cigarettes and food,” she said.

Rob MacRory, defending, told the court Hawkes, who has 46 previous convictions for theft and had spent some time in jail last year, had struggled with drug use fol lowing a military career.

“The happy thing to tell you is he has been drug free for 18 months,” he said.

District Judge Nigel Cadbury criticised Hawkes for his record but applauded him for kicking his drug habit.

He was handed a four-week curfew forbidding him from leaving his home between 9pm and 7am, as well as a £60 victim surcharge.

The court did not confirm which DVDs Hawkes chose.