A KIDDERMINSTER heroin addict stole seven gammon steaks to raise cash after his house was ransacked.

Stephen Morris took the meat from the

Co-op store in St John's, Worcester, on Thursday, May 16, Worcester Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Abi Nixon, prosecuting, told the court the police were called to the supermarket at around 5.20pm.

"Staff had detained the defendant, having seen him putting some items in his jacket and trying to leave the store without paying," she said.

Morris, of Hurcott Road, admitted theft, and another charge of theft relating to packets of razor blades stolen from a Dudley chemists.

Abi Kingston, defending, told the court that the 29-year-old had taken the items to raise money to live on.

She said while he had been serving a recent prison term, his house had been ransacked and he was struggling to buy furniture, as well as pay the rent on his house.

Magistrates gave Morris a 15-month community rehabilitation order, and ordered him to pay £120 costs.