A FORMER builder stole aftershave from Debenhams in a desperate bid to make ends meet, a court has heard.

Andrew Howard admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford on January 13.

Police had been called to Hereford's Old Market Debenhams after Howard was seen taking the £100 bottle of Hugo Boss aftershave on December 11, prosecutor Shafquat Reaz told the court.

The bottle was recovered and Howard admitted to officers that he had taken it.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Howard, said the 51-year-old had immediately admitted his guilt to police.

The court heard Howard was also in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in 2018.

"He does say the aftershave was worth £40, not £100," Miss Di Vitantonio said.

"But he accepts that he did steal it. He says he took it so he could sell it in order to get by. He could not make ends meet at the time."

The court heard Howard had been receiving a carer's allowance, but that this had stopped after his partner's death.

"He used to work in the building trade, but he has found it difficult to find new work because of Covid. It was a desperate act."

Howard, of The Crescent, Eastbourne Estate, Coleford, was fined £40 for the theft and £60 for breaching his suspended sentence. No costs order was made due to a lack of means.