The Poppy Appeal organiser for Ledbury, Lloyd Meredith, has condemned the theft of a charity box as "despicable".

But he said it was nice to be able to praise the law following the successful prosecution of the thief, who has been ordered to pay £23 compensation to the Hague Foundation.

Mr Meredith said it was the first Poppy Appeal charity box stolen from Ledbury in the four years he has been the local appeal co-ordinator.

But he said he was delighted that the charity was to be compensated for its estimated loss, following a case heard in Hereford Magistrates' Court last month.

Herefordshire and Worcester Magistrates' Courts Service has written to the British Legion Club in Church Street, Ledbury, informing the Hague Foundation that "on receipt of payment from the defendant", a cheque for compensation would be forthcoming.

Mr Meredith said the box had been taken on November 1, when it had only been out for one day.

He said the compensation promised was only an estimate of what was in the box.

He added: "Another week and there would have been quite a bit in it."