A WORCESTER conman who posed as a fund-raiser for Worcestershire and Herefordshire hospices has been jailed.

Wayne Morgan, aged 19, went from door-to-door around the city asking for donations to St Michael's and St Richard's hospices, Worcester Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

But none of the money he raised went to the charities. Morgan used it to fund his heroin addiction, the court heard.

The teenager, who spent 14 of the first 16 years of his life in care, admitted obtaining money by deception.

He also admitted trying to cash two cheques, worth £1,500 in total, which he had taken from another man's cheque book, and stealing a bottle of sherry.

Morgan, formerly of Avon Road, Tolladine but now of no fixed address, tricked people into giving him money during his daily collections from April to June this year.

Doreece Gunter, prosecuting, said he was arrested after trying to cash the cheques at Worcester's Lloyds TSB bank on Thursday, May 16.

Staff called the police after becoming suspicious about the signatures on the cheques, she said.

"When he was arrested, he said he had found the chequebook and forged the signatures," she said.

"He also told the police that he'd forged a sponsor form which showed he was working for the Prince's Trust and collecting money for St Michael's Hospice in Hereford."

Morgan also stole a bottle of sherry from the Co-op store in Ronkswood on Wednesday, June 12.

Andrew Childs, defending, said he was not asking the bench to send his client to prison but said Morgan realised that custody would be the best way for him to get off heroin.

"He shows maturity and insight into his situation," he said. "He has been in care for 14 of his first 16 years and this impacted on his education."

Morgan also admitted failing to surrender to bail and failing to co-operate with the probation service on a previous rehabilitation order.

The bench gave him a six-month jail sentence and condemned him for the "mean-spirited nature of the offences."