A prolific thief has admitted stealing tools, food, bedding and razor blades worth more than £1,500 in a spate of offences across Stevenage, Hitchin and Letchworth.

Matthew Williams, of Blakeney Road in Stevenage, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft and one of attempted theft when he appeared before Hatfield magistrates.

The stolen goods were worth a total of £1,548.11, not including some items for which the court did not list values.

Chairman of the bench Derryn Borley bailed the 34-year-old for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, with Williams set to appear for sentence on February 8.

The thefts were:

•November 1, from Wilko in Hitchin: Items including a power drill and a blanket, together worth £100

•November 6, from Wilko in Hitchin: Items including a power drill and an Advent calendar, together worth £100

•November 11, from Dunelm in Stevenage: Duvet and pillows, together worth £103.97

•November 19, from Wilko in Hitchin: Two power drills, together worth £100

•November 21, from Lidl in Letchworth: Food worth £70

•November 21, from Wickes in Letchworth: Two power drills, together worth £246

•November 29, from B&Q in Stevenage: Two power drills, together worth £300

•December 3, from Dunelm in Stevenage: Bedding of an unknown value

•December 4, from Iceland on Letchworth’s Plinston retail park: Food worth £144

•December 19, from B&Q in Stevenage: Two power drills, together worth £300

•December 19, from McColl’s in Stevenage: Food worth £4.14

•December 29, from Waitrose in Stevenage: Four packets of razor blades, together worth £80

•January 6, from Lidl in Letchworth: Food of an unknown value

The attempted theft was:

•November 29, from Halfords in Stevenage: Two socket sets in cases, together worth £175