A prolific meat thief who stole almost £350 worth of food from convenience stores has been given a community order.

Paul Richardson, 27, of Ormond Close, Harold Hill, made off with £244 in meat from Co-Op, Farnham Road, Harold Hill over three visits in March and April.

On March 6 he stole £66, on April 6 he took £30 and two days later he made off with £150.

Then on May 5 he stole £65 in meat from Iceland in the same road and then on May 24 he targeted Sainsbury’s, also in the same road, making off with another £30 worth – a total of £341.

Richardson pleaded guilty to all of the theft charges, as well as one for possession of one wrap of Class A drug diamorphine and was sentenced at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday last week.

He was also found to have heroin in his system and failed to attend a drug dependency assessment session.

He must attend rehabilitation appointments over the next six months and pay a victim surcharge of £60 and a criminal court charge of £150.