A THIEF has been remanded in custody after repeatedly stealing from shops in Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Thomas Rutter entered guilty pleas to 14 counts of theft from a shop and one count of failing to attend or remain for an initial assessment following a test for a class A drug when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in October.

The court heard from prosecutor Sarah Hurd that the 24-year-old had stolen three bottles of cognac worth £90 and five bottles of spirits worth £146 from Leominster's Cooperative supermarket, and washing products and household items worth £100 and washing up liquid and biscuits worth £2 from One Stop in Ludlow's Gravel Hill.

He had also stolen packets of pens worth £34.99 from WHSmith in Ludlow, doughnuts and ale worth £4 from Spar in Ludlow, beauty gift sets worth £100 and Clarins beauty products worth £200 from Peak Pharmacy in Ludlow, washing products and toiletries worth £35.34, washing products worth £83, and cheese from Ludlow's Tower Street One Stop, Champagne worth £150 and candles from Ludlow's Sainsbury's, and phone chargers worth £40 from Cooperative in Ludlow.

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He had further failed to attend an initial assessment to establish whether he was dependent on or had a propensity to misuse a class A drug in Shrewsbury after testing positive for cocaine and opiates.

The offences all took place between September 13 and October 10, the court was told.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out and Rutter, who is of no fixed address, was remanded in custody.

He will appear before magistrates in Telford for sentencing on November 1.