A LABOURER from Worcester has admitted stealing comics, groceries and milk from shops in the city as well as breaching a conditional discharge.

Antony Heighton-Towers, of Wellington Close, appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 1, after previously admitting stealing comics worth a total of £24.50 from WHSmith in Worcester High Street on Monday, January 19 and Friday, February 6 as well as groceries worth £6.13 from the 99p Store in St Martin’s Quarter and milk worth £1 from one of the city’s two Poundland shops on Friday, February 13.

The 23-year-old, who spent much of last year sleeping rough and currently works 15 hours a week as a labourer, had also previously pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on Friday, March 6 and committing an offence while subject to a conditional discharge he was handed in December last year for stealing £100 worth of DVDs and Blu-rays.

Heighton-Towers was ordered to pay £24.50 compensation to WHSmith, £4.95 to the 99p store and £1 to Poundland and was given a 12-month community order requiring him to carry out 13 days of rehabilitation.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.