A THIEF who owes more than £5,000 in court fines will have to pay some more after he admitted begging and stealing a bike.

32 year-old Daniel Cox admitted stealing a bike from Droitwich station as well as begging illegally in Worcester.

Prosecutor Ralph Robyns-Landricombe told Worcester Magistrates Court: “The theft happened at Droitwich Train Station last year. The victim had left their bike at the station with two bike locks.

“They returned on July 20 last year to find it was missing.”

Following police inquiries, police identified Cox and an accomplice walk up to the bike and remove the locks with bolt cutters.

Cox, of All Saints Road, Worcester, was then seen on February 11 this year begging in Mealcheapen Street by PCSO Youngs, who saw him sat with a hat on the floor in front of him, begging for change.

Mr Landricombe continued: “He was told to leave the area and stop begging. The officer then returned later that day to find he had returned to the same position and continued to beg.”

Eventually Cox, who has 36 previous convictions, was arrested and charged with the offences.

Cox was previously in the Worcester News in October last year, when he and another person stole a leaf blower from Worcester Cathedral.

The court heard how Cox has two fines accounts to his name, one with £356 outstanding and another with £4,997.99 outstanding.

The court’s legal adviser said most of this comes from compensation owed to shops he has stolen from in recent years.

Jane Laverick, chairman of the magistrates, ordered Cox to pay £350 in compensation to the person whose bike he stole, as well as giving him a six month conditional discharge.

He was also ordered to pay a £21 victim surcharge, but no costs were awarded due to his financial situation.