A MAN who stole items from numerous shops was "desperate for money," a court heard.

Ashley Busch, of West Circle in Wrexham, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday for sentence.

The 35-year-old had admitted four counts of thefts at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court how on May 31 this year Busch set off security alarms when leaving the Sainsburys store at Plas Coch Retail Park.

When CCTV footage was examined, it was discovered he'd taken two bottles of whiskey worth £37 each and hadn't paid for them.

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On the same day, he went to the One Below store in Regent Street and stole a fan worth £15.

That item was recovered, but the defendant fled the scene.

The next offence took place on June 8 when he concealed just under £50 worth of razor blades in his top at Boots on Plas Coch Retail Park and left the store with them.

The following day he left Tesco in Crescent Road with £90 worth of electric toothbrushes hidden in his jacket.

Police arrested him a few days later and during interview, he told officers he'd been having problems with his benefits and had a heroin habit.

The Leader: Wrexham Magistrates CourtWrexham Magistrates Court (Image: Google)

He fully admitted the four offences and told police he'd used the money generated to "sort himself out."

Busch said he stole the razor blades because he had no electric at home and he was "desperate for money."

Ms Jackson said his record showed 77 offences, more than 20 of which related to theft.

The court heard there was a further offence of theft committed by Busch at Tesco on June 10, which he had admitted, but the court was asked to allow that matter to be taken into consideration rather than sentenced separately.

Steven Alis, defending, said since using heroin, his client had been stealing to feed the habit.

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He said Busch was "enthusiastic" to engage with the probation service and wanted to rid himself of drug addiction.

The court handed down a community order of six months, with a drug rehabilitation requirement to run alongside it for the same period.

Busch must pay out total compensation of £364.98 to cover his two thefts at Tesco, one at Boots and one at Sainsburys.

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