A LEOMINSTER man who believed he was being followed was caught carrying an iron bar for protection, a court has heard.

Shane Kevin Evans admitted stealing and possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford on December 9.

Prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe said Evans had been reported to police after concealing £100 worth of meat belonging to Leominster's Dishley Street Co-op in his clothing and walking out without paying at 2.52pm on September 21.

They were again called two days later, when Evans walked into the town's Morrisons petrol station shop.

Staff recognised Evans, who is banned from the shop, and asked him to leave, but he returned later that evening to ask about the cash point.

As he left the second time, shop staff noticed the 33-year-old was carrying an iron bar with a ball on the end and called police.

In a police interview, Evans admitted stealing the meat and said he had sold it on for £20.

He told officers he had been carrying the iron bar for protection as he thought he was being followed.

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Chris Read, for Evans, said he had not used the weapon to threaten anyone.

"He went to the garage late at night and asked about the cash machine, which was not working," Mr Read said.

"It was only as he was leaving that staff saw he was carrying an iron bar. They reported it to the police, who spoke to him near his home. They asked him to drop it and he did."

Evans, of Portna Way, Leominster, received a 12-month community order and must complete 80 hours of unpaid work. He must pay compensation of £100 to Co-op, costs of £185, and a £95 victim surcharge.