Four Evesham shops parted with £1,372 worth of goods to a man using stolen credit cards, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Simon Inker obtained two mobile telephones, a camcorder and sports gear, said Michael Conry prosecuting.

He then drove on to the M5 and was seen ripping off packaging on the hard shoulder.

Inker abandoned the car and made his way to Bristol Crown Court, where he was sentenced the same day in March last year to three years' jail for burglary.

Inker, aged 28, of no fixed address, who was released from the sentence last Monday, admitted handling stolen goods at a hearing last week. He was given bail until October 2 to see if he could kick his drugs habit.

Mr Conry said it was an unusual case in which the cards were stolen from the home of Peter Grove in Post Office Lane, Badsey. The burglary took place after Mr Grove left home at 7.30am on March 9 and the cards were being used in Evesham at 9.15am the same day.

Inker, who said he bought them for £50, must have been very close to the burglars, said Mr Conry.

Inker had been in and out of custody since he was 18 and his record included several convictions for burglary.

Problems

Miss Elizabeth Muir, defending, said Inker was a drug addict but was now making an effort to overcome his problems.

He had been affected by the death of his six-year-old daughter from meningitis while he was in prison and was trying to turn his life around.

Judge David Matthews said he was giving Inker a chance to see whether he was genuine in his desire to tackle his drug affliction.

If this did not happen, custody was most likely to follow.