AN Andover television thief has been ordered to pay more than £600 in compensation after appearing before magistrates in Basingstoke last week.

Bartosz Bendykowski, of Mountbatten Court, Andover, admitted charges of stealing televisions from stores across Andover, theft of a drill, possession of a class C drug and possessing an article to be used in connection with theft.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing three televisions from shops in Andover in May including a Toshiba television worth £239 from Tesco, a Polaroid television worth £259 from Asda and a Seiki television costing £267 also from Asda.

Bendykowski additionally admitted to stealing a Stanley Fat Max drill worth £99.99 from Homebase in Daventry, Northamptonshire, in January and to possessing 8mg of Subutex during an incident in Basingstoke in June.

He was also convicted of having possession of an article to be used in connection with theft by magistrates in Salisbury, where the offence took place, in July.

The defendant was ordered to pay a total of £625.99 in compensation for the television and power tool thefts, a £200 fine for possession of an article to be used in connection with theft and to forfeit the drugs.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £180 criminal courts charges, a £20 victim surcharge and £85 Crown Prosecution costs.