A MAN who stole a dog chain with a value of £50 from Worcester's Pets At Home shop has been fined.

Lukman Miah, aged 34, admitted stealing the chain from the Blackpole store on Tuesday, March 27.

Douglas Marshall, prosecuting, said staff noticed Miah, of Chedworth Drive, Warndon, Worcester, behaving suspiciously before he took the item towards the till then ran outside.

Mark Lister, defending, said Miah had been using about four or five bags of heroin a day and had committed the crime to fund his drug habit.

But he said Miah had "got a grip on himself" and now had reduced his drug use to only one bag a day.

Miah also admitted failing to turn up at court to answer the charge and appeared before magistrates in custody.

However, Mr Lister said Miah had been staying at a Birmingham restaurant where he was briefly working while his cousin was ill and his train had been delayed causing him to be late for court.

Magistrates fined him £150, ordered him to pay £50 compensation and costs of £60 for the theft and no separate penalty for not attending court.