A BURGLAR has been fined after meat was stolen from the kitchen of a Hereford city centre hotel.

Kamil Dariusz Guzy admitted one count of burglary with intent to steal when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Three men were seen entering the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford's Broad Street at 4.15am on June 26, prosecutor Mark Hambling said.

They went into the kitchen, where £191 worth of meat was later found to be missing from a freezer.

Guzy was identified by police, who recognised him from CCTV footage, and his home was searched but no meat found.

"There is no evidence that he was in the freezer, but there is CCTV showing him entering the building," Mr Hambling said.

Chris Read, for Guzy, said he had been out drinking with a friend and another person he did not really know.

"At 4am on he way home they went past the back of the hotel and made the decision to go inside," Mr Read said.

"It was opportunistic and CCTV shows the three of them went into the kitchen but does not show him going into the freezer from where the meat was taken.

"He accepts that he was there and has pleaded guilty, but there was no spoiling or ransacking, it was just opportunity while very drunk.

Guzy, of the John Haider Building, Bath Street, Hereford, was fined £230 and ordered to pay costs of £185 and a £34 victim surcharge.