A THIEF who stole hundreds of pounds worth of wine has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing.

Jason Wargen entered guilty pleas to three counts of assault by beating, 22 counts of theft from a shop, and one count of criminal damage when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in November.

The court heard from prosecutor Owen Beale that the 48-year-old, who was represented by defence solicitor Marilena Di Vitantonio, had assaulted two women by beating on November 15, and a third woman by beating on November 10, all in Leominster.

He had also stolen 45 bottles of wine, a further "large amount" of red wine worth £314, bottles of alcohol worth a total of £81.60, and a four-pack of non-alcoholic Guinness worth £4.99 in a string of thefts from shops in Leominster including the Co-operative, Leominster Service Station, Applegreen Service Station, and Spar.

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The thefts all took place between September and November, the court heard.

He had further caused criminal damage in Leominster on November 15, intentionally or recklessly causing £195 worth of damage to a West Mercia Police van cell without lawful excuse.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out by the probation service and Wargen, of South Street, Leominster, was remanded in custody.

He will appear before magistrates in Hereford for sentencing on November 29.