A HEROIN addict stole almost £200 worth of stock from a supermarket, just 24 hours after admitting four theft charges at court.

Matthew Rother stole various items, including meat, DVD players and remote-controlled helicopters, during a 30-day spell at the end of last year.

He took items from five stores around Weston and Worle between November 23 and December 22, North Somerset Courthouse was told on Friday.

He was caught on all five occasions and told police he was stealing to raise money for food because he is diabetic, as well as to pay for drugs.

The court was told Rother had started taking heroin at the age of 19 and had relapsed after getting himself clean.

Michael Collins, prosecuting, said the Weston defendant could not believe what he had done on the third occasion after he was caught stealing a bottle of perfume from The Fragrance Shop in the Sovereign Shopping Centre.

Mr Collins said: “Rother told security staff he had turned over a new leaf and couldn’t believe he had gone and stolen straight way, making himself, in his own words, look like a t**t.”

On December 21, Rother, of Wilton Gardens, admitted four charges of theft, taking goods worth a total of £197.99 - only to steal again when he was bailed.

The following day he took meat, electrical goods and whisky from Aldi at Flowerdown Retail Park and was arrested again and held in prison.

Rother asked for five other theft offences from November to be taken into consideration by magistrates.

He was given a community order and supervision requirement for nine months and ordered to enrol on a six-month drug treatment course. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £200.