A LEOMINSTER man stole two bottles of vodka from a town supermarket in order to sell it and pay for his heating, a court was told.

Paul Leake, 35, of Etnam Street, Leominster, pleaded guilty to stealing two bottles of Russian Standard vodka from the town's Co-operative store at Hereford Magistrates Court.

Leake went into the store just before 5pm on March 23, the court heard, and picked up two bottles of vodka worth £38 combined.

He put them under his jumper before leaving and cycling off without making any attempt to pay.

Store staff were alerted, CCTV was reviewed and the theft was discovered before he was later identified.

In a police interview on April 9, he said he had stolen and sold the vodka so he could pay for his gas, adding he had been silly and should not have done it.

Defending, George Cousins, said the offence had taken place six weeks ago and there had been no offending since.

Although the goods were not recovered, he cooperated fully with police. He had found himself without benefits due to moving home and had no money for food or heating, Mr Cousins said.

He had returned to things he had done before and knew it was a way of obtaining money, selling it almost immediately.

He was handed a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates and will have to pay £38 compensation and a £15 victim surcharge.