A MAN left with epilepsy after four men assaulted him and threw him off a railway bridge has admitted six thefts.

John Gurney admitted taking £15 worth of beef from Somerfield, Evesham, eight cans of Stella lager, worth £11.36, from the One-stop-shop, Evesham, and £7 worth of meat from Somerfield, Evesham.

He also admitted taking £29.32 worth of meat from Tesco, £26.96 of sirloin steak from Aldi, Evesham, and a bottle of whiskey costing £35.99 from Morrisons.

Emma Lile, prosecuting, said the shoplifting offences took place in July and August.

Sam Lamsdale, defending, said Gurney, 33, had been addicted to heroin for 10 years.

She said he suffered severe head injuries in the 1996 attack, spent a month in hospital and was left with epilepsy, vision problems, claustrophobia and panic attacks.

She said his drug use had caused him to suffer a blood clot in his leg and he also had severe depression.

She read out a list of eight different drugs he had to take to combat his medical problems.

Miss Lamsdale said Gurney, of Rynal Place, Evesham, had a fear of being sent to prison and police officers were so worried about his health problems they had sent him home rather than keep him in custody overnight.

She added: “A couple of years after the attack his long-term relationship failed and they split up and he turned to heroin use.”

She said he did not offend between 2004 and 2007 when he was receiving methadone and hoped to try the heroin substitute again.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a full report, with all options open, and gave him bail on condition he stayed indoors between 7pm and 7am and did not visit any retail premises in Worcestershire.

He will return to court on Wednesday, October 1.