A LODGER who stole cash from the woman he was renting from has been handed a community order.

Hector George Bazeley, 27, admitted stealing £50 from the room of the owner of the Bridport property he was staying in on May 19.

At his sentencing hearing at Dorchester Crown Court, prosecutor Tom Wright said he was renting a room in the five-bedroom house and the owner kept her room in the property locked.

When she found the money missing the offence was traced to Bazeley. His fingerprints were found on box the cash had been kept in, the court heard.

He made immediate admissions and was sentenced to a community order for 12 months with a requirement to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Bazeley, now of Blackdown, Beaminster, was also ordered to pay £450 in costs, compensation of £50 and a victim surcharge of £60.