A HOMELESS man who was branded “despicable” for stealing three Poppy collection tins and their contents during Remembrance week, has been jailed for 12 months.

Matthew Morgan, 32, was caught by police on November 7 last year when CCTV was circulated of him stealing a tin from McDonalds in Taunton.

Police recognised his face and hunted Morgan down to the tent he was living in near Taunton rail station.

Prosecuting, Emma Martin, said: “He was frank and open about what he had done and told police he had wanted to buy legal highs.

“He said there was around £30 in the box and that he had spent most of it and police found a number of items from the legal high shops.

“He made a full admission when he spoke to the police but made no mention of stealing anything else.”

The court then heard how police went over CCTV of two other thefts of Poppy tins in Taunton on November 4 and 5 and saw it was the same offender.

Mrs Martin added: “He again made a full admission and told police that he and his girlfriend were hungry and the money was to buy food.”

Morgan was also in court to be sentenced for breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed at Birmingham Crown Court in August last year after he was found with a syringe and amphetamine.

Defending, Harry Ahuja said: “He has struggled with drugs and legal highs and in desperation he stole the tins. “This is something he deeply regrets and he is deeply ashamed of what he has done.

“He is homeless and his mother’s address in Watchet is a ‘care of’; he isn’t living there. “He has been seeking help and has been attending supervision.”

Sentencing, Judge Geoffrey Mercer said he had no choice but to impose a jail sentence.

“This is a despicable offence and one which caused public outrage. “

I take into account that you admitted the offences and that you  have been attending supervision meetings.

“I sentence you to 12 months imprisonment with three months for each theft to be served concurrent as an act of leniency.”

This means Morgan has been jailed for 12 months.