A man who stole a heat gun from a van was intoxicated and did not remember why he did it, a court has heard.

Daniel Hughes, aged 18, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court, where he admitted stealing the paint-stripping tool, worth £20, from the footwell of a Vauxhall Combi van.

Mark Johnson, prosecuting, said that on the evening of Sunday, February 18, the owner of the van was at home and his vehicle was parked outside.

Through a window, his wife spotted Hughes, of Cameron Court, Malvern, inside the van and when the owner subsequently challenged him, the heat gun was sticking out of his pocket.

When interviewed by police officers, Hughes said he had been drinking all night and could not recall what had happened.

Barry Newton, defending, called it an inept theft and said: "He was intoxicated when this offence was committed. Having sobered up, he doesn't know why he would have wanted it. It's a specialist item used by the owner for his job."

Magistrates gave Hughes a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £43 costs.

Presiding magistrate Robert Young told Hughes: "It was a stupid thing you did."