A TOOL hire assistant stole from his Kidderminster employer and used a friend's credit card without permission, Hereford Crown Court was told.

Richard Moreton, of Stourport, pleaded guilty to stealing equipment valued at £2,875 from Express Tool Hire, of Lisle Avenue, and selling it on to a builder, Tristram Scully.

The 25-year-old, from Windermere Way, also admitted obtaining services by deception after running up unauthorised bills on Adam Duckett's credit card, totalling £626.

Moreton was sentenced to 200 hours of community punishment and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to Express Tool Hire.

He was also ordered to pay £165 compensation to Mr Duckett after the court was told that Moreton and his family had already repaid £460 of the unauthorised credit card transactions.