A HOMELESS man has been jailed for nearly a year after a spate of thefts in the last two months.

Stephen Pocock, 33, admitted stealing two bicycles belonging to 13-year-old boys from the grounds of Christopher Whitehead Language College.

He also admitted the theft of another bike belonging to a student, which he took from outside the Heart of Worcestershire College.

Pocock, who was living on the streets in Worcester, admitted stealing two bikes and the attempted theft of another from the cycle sheds at Worcester Foregate Street train station and also admitted several thefts from city shops amounting to approximately £600.

Pocock, a heroin addict, was jailed for 51 weeks.

PC Paul Lambon, from the Worcester city centre team said: "I believe Pocock stole to feed his heroin addiction and the sentence given reflects the harm his crimes had on the victims and for offending during a previous suspended sentence.

"This is a substantial sentence and shows the courts do not tolerate this sort of prolific behaviour with a clear disregard for how it impacts on the victims.

"The case combined the efforts of Worcester city policing team, British Transport Police and Worcester Business Improvement District team with members of the retail community, who generated overwhelming evidence, including a huge amount of CCTV, that built a very strong case against Pocock.

"This man has been living a lifestyle entirely focussed on his Class A drug addiction.

"This has driven him to offend on a virtual daily basis with no thought of the impact it has had on his victims."

Todd Burston, 31, another homeless man, was found guilty of assisting Pocock with some of the offences at Worcester Magistrates Court, today. Magistrates deferred passing sentence on Burston for six months.