Pocketing credit card details from a dustbin cost a man from Weston-super-Mare an 18-month community order.

Police found the details at Mark Bailey's home in Macefield House, Chaucer Road, Bristol Crown Court was told.

Bailey said he found the details in a bin and kept them to see if he could use them.

The 47-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing articles for use in fraud.

He also admitted possessing 1,500 diazepam tablets, worth £140, for personal use.

Imposing sentence, Judge Mark Horton told him the possession of articles for fraud was extremely serious and caused extremely unpleasant consequences.

He said: "People find themselves financially embarrassed in circumstances which put their whole life on hold."

The judge ordered Bailey to attend the Think First course for up to 30 days, designed to stop re-offending.

John Penny, prosecuting, said police stopped Bailey's girlfriend in her car because the vehicle was untaxed and it contained items they suspected were for the growing of cannabis.

Mr Penny said when the woman was searched she was found to have a piece of paper on which was written credit card details, names and addresses.

On arrest she told police: "You'll find more of those in the flat. I tried to top up my phone with it."

Mr Penny said when police visited the flat they found Bailey throwing things away.

Bailey was found to have four sheets of A4 paper containing credit card details and personal information, the court heard.

Mr Penny said four of the credit cards on the list had been used fraudulently to the tune of £1,195.99.

Also in the flat were 50 boxes each containing 28 diazepam tablets, which Bailey claimed he had bought in bulk for himself.

Mr Penny said Bailey had previous convictions for criminal damage, deception, robbery, attempted robbery, battery and possession of a Class B drug.

Ramin Pakrooh, defending, said his client had previously served a four-and-a-half year jail term for attempted robbery and drug possession.

He said: "Since then there has been nothing in the same league as those earlier convictions."

Mr Pakrooh said the probation service believed Bailey could perform community work as long as it did not involve heavy lifting, due to his having a bad back.