A REDDITCH man who stole televisions from supermarkets on an "industrial scale" has been handed a suspended sentence by the courts.

Keith Rock, of Bromsgrove Road, stole televisions from Tesco on Coldfield Drive in Redditch across three days in early November last year.

While on bail for the thefts, the 40-year-old went on to help snatch an electric bicycle from a Redditch street, Kidderminster Magistrates Court heard.

He was caught on CCTV using bolt cutters to remove the bicycle which was locked to street furniture by its owner while she went to work, on November 17.

The bike was worth £1,149 and was its owner's only mode of transport, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and also admitted stealing £40 worth of steak and fish from Morrisons on October 26 and another count of stealing £60 worth of food from Morrisons on November 7, when he appeared in court on January 19.

Rock's defence pointed out he had pleaded guilty to all offences at the first opportunity.

Summing up, District Judge Strongman said that "the shop thefts are on an industrial scale" costing "thousands of pounds".

He acknowledged that a pre-sentence report highlighted how work could be done to help Rock with drug rehabilitation.

He handed Rock an eight week custodial sentence for the bike theft and 16 weeks for the other offences and suspended the combined 24 week sentence for 18 months.

Rock was also ordered to take part in a drug rehabilitation programme.

Sentencing Rock, District Judge Strongman added: "You need to stay out of trouble for the next 18 months."