Disappearing prescription drugs led to a Hoover theft.

Ian Michael Power, of Larch Road, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, March 5.

He pleaded guilty to stealing two joints of meat worth £17.38 from Iceland Food Warehouse on August 25, and a Freedom Hoover, worth £79.99 on February 17 from Lidl, Milford Haven.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said Power simply walked into the stores, picked up the items and left.

The court heard that the meat was not recovered, but Power had been captured on CCTV and admitted the offence when interviewed.

Jonathan Webb, defending, said: “This was at a time when he was subject to sanctions to his benefits and did not have any money to feed himself.”

He added that Power, 43, had taken the hoover to sell on, after tablets he had been prescribed for the weekend went missing.

“He was feeling the after-effects of not having the drug and unfortunately reverted to type and took the hoover with a view to selling it to buy more pills, to settle his cravings until he could get his pills from the chemist.

“He was somewhat desperate.

“He was foolish in the extreme to deal with the matter in this way. He apologises for that.”

The court heard that Power had a Class A drug problem in the past, and had a ‘bumpy road to travel’.

Mr Webb added: “Sometimes there are blips and he falls off the wagon, and that’s what happened here.”

“It was not sophisticated in any shape or form.

“He is trying his best, but it is not easy for him.”

Mr Power said: “I am doing my best, I’m sorry.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with a 6pm to 6am tagged curfew.

Power was ordered to pay £267.38 made up of a fine, compensation, court costs and a victim surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “We want you to break this cycle.”