A man is to be sentenced after admitting stealing almost £300 worth of items from Wrexham shops.

Joshua Parker, of Pentregwyn in Wrexham, was produced in custody at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

With the assistance of a sign language interpreter, the 35-year-old admitted nine counts of theft from shops in the Wrexham area, on dates in February, April and May.

The majority were committed at the Co-op store in Lord Street, but also targeted were Ruabon Park Services, Co-op in Borras Park Road and Coedpoeth Premier store.

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Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court the items taken included: fizzy and soft drinks, butter, chilled foods, joints of meat, confectionary, breakfast cereal, washing detergent and more.

None of the items taken - worth some £289.90 in total - had been recovered.

The court heard Parker was jailed in July last year.

He'd been convicted of numerous offences including; assaults against police officers, thefts from Boots, Tesco and Co-op, criminal damage of a police cell and racially aggravated harassment.

Ceri Lewis, defending, told the court that the latest offending had occurred following his release from custody due to a "drastic reduction in benefits" and a need to feed his heroin habit.

She added he'd also been trying to feed himself.

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"He does have an appointment with the Jobcentre next week," she continued, "and he also has a drug worker."

Deputy District Judge Lee Davies opted to order an all options pre-sentence report to explore potential probation intervention for the defendant before imposing sentence.

He said: "If he doesn't take the help, he's just going to keep going to prison."