A PRISONER has admitted stealing £56,000 worth of silverware from a church and burgling Worcester Warriors' Sixways Stadium.

Within a single week, Paul Sheward broke into the stadium and stole televisions as well as taking a silver jug and chalices - some dating back 200 years - in a raid on a church office.

He admitted the offences, and another theft - where he threatened a shop worker with a needle - when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Robert Whitehouse, prosecuting, said Sheward broke into the stadium in the early hours of June 21, and stole two large flat screen televisions and tills, in total worth more than £3,000.

Mr Whitehouse said: "He entered the bar, and set off alarms, which prompted him to flee.

"Blood found linked back to him."

Mr Whitehouse said just five days later, Sheward raided Droitwich Parish Centre, the office for St Andrew's Church.

"He stole a silver jug and chalices - high value, religiously significant silverware worth £50,000 to £60,000," Mr Whitehouse said.

The items were locked away in a cupboard with Sheward breaking off a padlock to steal them, and the 31-year-old also stole the church's audio equipment.

Reverend Laura Handy has previously told the Worcester News that some of the silverware stolen, and that has not been recovered, was made more than 200 years ago and used in communion services.

She added that the church community had been "wounded" by the thefts.

During the hearing, when the church burglary was discussed, Sheward interjected to tell magistrates: "I was shocked at the value (of the items).

"I was out of my head."

Mr Whitehouse added that in a third theft, in which Sheward stole meat from Tesco Express in Warndon on June 17, a customer heard Sheward threaten a staff member with a needle after they tried to stop him escaping.

Mark Lister, defending, said Sheward's crimes were unplanned, he acted alone and was not in a gang.

He said: "He expresses his remorse and shame in regards to the theft from the church."

Magistrates heard Sheward, who appeared on videolink from HMP Hewell, was already in prison due to a previous string of thefts, and is not due for release until March 2020.

Magistrates decided their powers of punishment were not sufficient and sent the case to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing.

He was be sentenced on September 28.

In July Sheward, formerly of Kidderminster, refused to take part in another court hearing as a court reporter was covering his case.