A HOMELESS man thought it was his lucky day when he stumbled on a betting slip worth more than £500.

Leroy Nutt picked it up and looked each way before darting into the bookies hours later to cash the winning ticket in.

But after being odds-on favourite to pocket the loot, his luck ran out when staff at the Ladbrokes shop became suspicious and contacted the police, Worcester magistrates heard.

As the charges of theft and obtaining money by deception were read out, Nutt interrupted the clerk to insist he had not taken the slip from anybody.

The 30-year-old maintained he had simply found the ticket on the floor, but admitted both charges anyway.

"It's not as if he took it off anybody, he found it on the floor," said Nick Roberts defending.

"Five hours later, he went to the betting shop and discovered he had a winning ticket."

Winning slip

The winning slip netted the rough sleeper, whose parents live in Droitwich, a massive £511.

"He thought it was his lucky day and didn't see anything wrong with what he had done," added Mr Roberts.

"But he accepts now he shouldn't have done it."

Nutt gave his address as Stalls Farm Road, but Suzanne Llewellyn, prosecuting, said this was his parents' address and revealed he had been sleeping rough.

"He told police he was of no fixed address and, by his own admission, had been sleeping in doorways," said Mrs Llewellyn.

The case was adjourned until Friday, July 12 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Nutt was bailed on condition he stayed at his parents' address and reported to Droitwich Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

As unshaven Nutt left the dock, he saluted the magistrates and thanked the court.