A FINGER-biting thief has been banned from almost every shop in Leominster after repeated offences.

Joshua Symonds was convicted of one count of common assault, one count of theft in a dwelling, one count of theft by finding, one count of attempted theft from a shop, four counts of theft from a shop, one count of failing to surrender to bail, and one count of assault by beating by magistrates.

At a hearing in November, the court heard from prosecutor Mark Hambling that the 28-year-old had assaulted a man by beating and had bitten his finger in Leominster between May 15 and 16. 

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He had stolen a 1.5 litre bottle of vodka worth £25 and £145 cash from a property in Leominster on May 10, and a parcel containing clothing in Leominster on May 15.

He had also stolen 10 bottles of liquor on October 17, £340 worth of spirits on October 11, and attempted to steal six bottles of spirits, steaks, and boxes of eggs from The Food Warehouse, Hereford, on October 23, stole six bottles of whiskey worth £95.94 from Aldi in Ludlow, and stole three boxes of Pokemon cards worth £299 from Etnam News in Leominster on November 8.

He then failed to surrender to custody at Hereford magistrates court on September 26, having been released on bail on September 13.

Symonds, who is of no fixed address, was handed an 18-month community order with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement, fined £50, and ordered to pay compensation to the shops he stole from.

He was also handed a three-year criminal behaviour order for the offences.

The order requires him to leave any premises when requested, bans him from entering any business in Leominster with the exception of Westfield Walk Pharmacy to obtain prescriptions, Aladdins Store for food and household goods, and for pre-arranged medical, legal, and employment appointments.

It also bans him from entering Sainsbury's in Ludlow, Co-op in Church Stretton, and The Food Warehouse in Hereford.