A MAN was caught stealing 16 bottles of spirits from a Ledbury convenience store, magistrates heard.

Alexandru Barbieru, 22, was caught stealing £388 worth of goods from the Co-operative- the last of three thefts on the same day.

Owen Beale, prosecuting, said that the three thefts happened on the afternoon of January 25 with the last happening at 5.50pm.

"He went into the Co-operative in Ledbury with two other men who have not been identified," said Mr Beale.

"They had 16 bottles of spirits in a Sainsbury's bag and tried to leave without paying for the items. Barbieru was stopped by staff and then arrested by police with the items being recovered."

Police then discovered that there had been two earlier thefts at two different Co-operative stores earlier that afternoon when baby formula milk powder worth £104 had been stolen from a Malvern store and £455 worth of spirits was stolen from a Worcester store- both weren't recovered.

Barbieru, of Campbell Street, Northampton, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

When interviewed by police Barbieru wouldn't tell them who he was with or what happened to the other items.

He told them that he had arrived in the country three days earlier from Romania.

Natalie Johnson-Stanley, probation officer, said that Barbieru was very remorseful on interview and said that he stole the items due to having no funds.

She added that he had arrived from Romania after being promised a job which hadn't come through.

"He lives in a shared house and had now secured full-time employment at a car wash," added Miss Johnson-Stanley.

Magistrates handed Barbieru a 12-month community order including 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £559 in compensation to the Co-operative, £100 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.