A 'PROLIFIC offender' was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of stolen goods, drugs, and a knife in Hereford city centre.

Tomasz Romanko entered guilty pleas when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster.

The court heard the 41-year-old had stolen electrical items and perfumes worth £376.99 from Hereford's Boots shop on November 15.

He had been caught carrying a quantity of amphetamines and a lock knife in Hereford's Widemarsh Street on the same date.

He had also stolen headphones, perfume, and sunglasses from Sainsbury's supermarket in Kidderminster and had again been caught carrying amphetamines on December 12.

Magistrates said Romanko's offending was serious as he is a prolific offender.

Romanko, who gave a care of address in Hereford, was handed a total sentence of 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must also carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

The drugs, knife, and a pair of pliers Romanko had used to remove security tags from items, were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.