A 32-year-old man who stole an RNLI charity box in Barmouth last September, had a long standing drugs problem, magistrates at Dolgellau heard.

In December 2015, Lee William Davies, The Firs, Buildwas Road, Telford, was given a 12-month suspended jail term in the Midlands, having previously spent half of a 15-month sentence in custody.

The court probation officer said that the theft charge involving the RNLI charity box occurred before the suspended prison sentence was imposed, and occurred while Davies was on prison licence and was recalled to prison for 28 days.

At the last court appearance, a community rehabilitation order and drug rehabilitation were imposed, and the defendant was responding well, the court heard.

Because of the defendant’s drug dependency and mental health problems, the court probation officer recommended that the magistrates impose a fine on the defendant and ordered that the existing order to continue.

Davies was fined £140 after pleading guilty to theft, and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and £20 victim surcharge.

The police had confiscated £20 in coins that the defendant had on him when arrested.