A Newport man will be sentenced after admitting a shoplifting spree around Gwent to fund his heroin addiction.

Jonathan Avery, 22, of Cormorant Way, Duffryn, pleaded guilty at Newport Magistrates Court to six counts of shoplifting.

The offences include taking £69.08 worth of Ktikat bars from the Tesco Express store, Malpas Road, Newport, on February 3.

Avery also admitted filling a bag with £54.81 worth of meat from an aisle at Aldi, Cwmbran, on November 5 2009 and leaving without paying.

Prosecution Gemma Kneebone said Avery also “ran away” with £50 worth of cosmetics from Spar, Bassaleg Road, Newport, on January 13 and stole 12 boxes of washing tablets from Spar, Cardiff Road, Newport, on October 25 2009.

Miss Kneebone said that some of the offences were captured on CCTV, while Avery admitted the rest after he was arrested.

He was due to appear at Newport Magistrates on March 29, to answer the charges and one count of possessing diamorphone.

But, when he failed to appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Avery was picked up by Gwent Police officers on Monday, in the back of a car on Cardiff Road, Newport, and in possession of heroin.

Defence barrister Mike Sage said Avery aimed to sell the goods to buy drugs, “to fund his addiction”.

Chairwoman of the bench, Veronica Crick, remanded Avery in custody until sentencing on April 20.