A 32-year-old Kidderminster man described as a "prolific" thief has been given a chance to go straight by a judge at Hereford Crown Court.

Michael Edwards, of Jubilee Drive, was said to have 66 previous convictions - 56 of them for theft.

Edwards, who admitted handling a stolen debit card, obtaining property by deception, theft and perverting the court of justice, was said to have got off drugs and obtained a regular job.

Judge David Matthews said he was deferring sentence until June 24 to see if Edwards continued his improved lifestyle.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said a Droitwich man had his debit card stolen on March 22 last year and within a short time Edwards had used it at four town stores to obtain more than £100 worth of goods.

When Edwards was arrested, he gave police his brother's name and address. It was only after he had been fingerprinted and photographed that his real identity was revealed.

Miss Abigail Nixon, defending, said the catalyst for the offences came when Edwards and his partner of 15 years had their baby taken into care because they were both heroin users.

Edwards, however, had since returned to live with his mother and stepfather and had voluntarily given up drugs.

He now had a regular job as a labourer.