A HOMELESS man from Worcester stole over £1,500 worth of goods in a string of thefts.

David Egan Parker, 23, admitted eight counts of theft at Worcester Magistrates Court after stealing electric shavers from Boots and fragrances from Debenhams.

All of the items were stolen between November 5 and December 3 and the total value of the items taken by Parker, who has gone through several periods of homelessness and currently lives at St Paul's Hostel, came to £1,616.

Parker was serving a suspended sentence for a theft from a shop in February 2017 at the time of the offences, the court heard.

His solicitor, Fergus Maxwell, said: “I have represented Mr Parker for a number of years since he was a youth and I am aware that he has a number of issues including Asperger’s and ADHD, all of which affect his life. He has had several periods of homelessness and this is why he stole the items.

“He was not trying to fund a drug addiction, he was simply trying to get the money for a bed and a shower at a budget hotel for the night. He has spent time on the streets in Birmingham and Worcester and has suffered greatly, at times being spat on in the streets.

“In fairness to him he did not try and deny the charges and did not ask to see the evidence when it was offered by the police. Until he finds proper accommodation this will keep happening and the reality is that when someone comes out of prison their benefits are stopped and they are given 47 quid and nowhere to live."

Sentencing Parker on Thursday, magistrates activated his suspended sentence, giving him eight weeks in prison for each offence, to be served concurrently.