A HOMELESS man who was desperate to go to prison stole £40 worth of toiletries from a city centre store in a bid to be arrested, a court heard.

Ashley Walters had his bag packed ready when he arrived at Worcester Magistrate's Court for sentencing yesterday - and the 26-year-old grinned as the magistrates handed him a three-month jail sentence for the theft. Walters was given a further seven days, to run concurrently, for three motoring offences.

He cheerfully held out his hand as guards came to handcuff him and take him to prison.

"He committed the offence fully intending to get himself arrested and sent to prison," said his solicitor, Nick Roberts.

"Prison will offer him some stability - he is homeless and has been drifting around.

Bullying

"He believes it will give him time to reflect on what has happened to him and will take him away from the area and from bullying and drug misuse issues," Mr Roberts told the court.

A store detective from Superdrug, in St Swithin's Street, Worcester, caught Walters stealing packets of razors and cans of body spray worth £40.

"He collected a number of items and simply walked out," said Mark Soper, prosecuting.

"The detective stopped him outside and he co-operated fully in going back into the shop while the police were called."

Walters had pleaded guilty to the theft at an earlier hearing in April.

He had previous convictions for similar offences and the court heard that community sentences had failed to stop him offending.

In October last year he was convicted in his absence for driving without a licence, insurance and MOT.