A homeless man repeatedly targeted a petrol station stealing more than £500 worth of alcohol, a court heard.

Daniel John Ford, 34, and of no fixed abode, admitted five counts of theft at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court.

It refers to theft of alcohol from the Marks & Spencer shop at Redlands Service Station, Dorchester Road, Weymouth.

Magistrates heard on five separate days in April and May this year, Ford stole alcohol totalling £571.

The offences put Ford in breach of a conditional discharge imposed on April 18 for possession of cannabis.

Tara Olney, prosecuting, said: “All of the incidents were captured on CCTV.

“He has a previous conviction for possession of cannabis.

“He is also serving a community order for assaulting three emergency workers and criminal damage.

“Compensation is sought because none of the items were recovered.”

Lee Christmas, mitigating, said: “All of these offences take place within the space of a month.

“He has no history of shoplifting except a reprimand 23 years ago.

“All of his previous offences are disorder and assaults.

“This was out of character for him.

“This happened because he was homeless and out of desperation for money.”

The court heard from Martin Peterson, from the Probation Service, who said Ford was evicted from supported accommodation after he became aggressive to a support worker during a room check.

Ford threw his television at the wall and down the stairs and shouted at the support worker, it was said.

Mr Peterson said: “He is sleeping rough - efforts are being made to give him a place to live again.

“He struggles when he is living on the streets, his drug use increases.

"He has not completed any of the 25 (rehabilitation) days as part of his community order, these need to be completed before February.

"I don't think there would be any benefit if he was incarcerated."

Steve Anderton, chair of the magistrates' bench, told the defendant: "We think that under your current circumstances, it is not likely you would be able to get all of the (rehabilitation) days completed before February.

"We are going to cancel that order and impose a new community order for 18 months.

"You will still have to complete those 25 days but we are adding an extra 10 days to the order."

Ford was also given a restraining order not to go to the petrol station for 18 months.

He was ordered to pay compensation of £571, a surcharge of £114 and costs of £85, which will be deducted from his benefits.