A HOMELESS man checked into three hotels, treated himself and his girlfriend to room service and left without paying.

Ian Wareing targeted two hotels in Worcester and one in Malvern last month, running up bills totalling nearly £600, Worcester Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Wareing's first victim was the Fownes Hotel, in Worcester, on Thursday, June 6, said Liz Tweed, prosecuting.

"He booked into the hotel with his girlfriend, indicating the room could be paid for, and ordered room service and used the telephone before leaving via the fire exit," she said.

"He then booked into the White House Hotel and followed the same pattern.

Removed items

"When he and his girlfriend left the Cotford Hotel, in Malvern, they also removed various items including a kettle and bath mat from the room."

The court heard how the biggest bill Wareing managed to clock up was £346 at the Fownes Hotel.

The three offences occurred on consecutive days.

The 22-year-old, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of dishonesty, one of theft, and accepted he had breached a conditional discharge which he was given earlier this year for a string of similar offences.

Richard Hull, defending, said Wareing was homeless, and had spent a night in prison as he had nowhere else to sleep.

He added he had given himself up to police rather than spend a night on the streets.

"These offences occurred at a time when he was homeless, and at this time there is no option for him other than staying in custody."

Magistrates decided to defer sentencing until they had read pre-sentence reports on Wareing.

He is next due in court on Thursday, August 8.