A RECOVERING heroin user, who wanted to spruce himself up before seeing his son, stole a packet of razor blades to shave off his beard.

Andrew Boulter decided to take the razor blades when he collected a prescription from Superdrug in Worcester.

The 31-year-old had no money on him at the time.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard how a struggle between Boulter and the manager of Superdrug took place outside the shop after the manager followed him out of the building.

Boulter handed the razors back to the shop's manager before making off towards Mealcheapen Street.

Abi Nixon, prosecuting, said the razor theft took place on Tuesday, April 9. "The manager went outside, asked him to come back to the store, then struggled with the defendant," she said.

"He said he had no intention of paying for the razor blades."

Andrew Childs, defending, said his client was currently being prescribed a low dosage of methadone to help him come off heroin.

He said Boulter of White Ladies Close, Barbourne, Worcester, had started seeing his son again from a previous relationship.

"After six years he's started seeing his son again and on this day he felt dishevelled and had a full beard," he said. "He was going to see his son and thought he'd feel better with a shave."

Boulter admitted the theft of the pack of razor blades, worth £3.19.

He also admitted failing to appear at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday April 18.

He was fined £50 for the theft, £20 for failure to attend bail and ordered to pay £30 costs.