A WINCHESTER thief stole two high-value bronze statues from a city art gallery.

Carl Coles, 42, admitted snatching a figure of a horse, valued at £2,900, from The Minster Gallery on Great Minster Street on October 24.

A week later he returned to grab a figure of a girl kneeling valued at £2,200.

Coles, of Octavia Hill, Stanmore, also pleaded guilty to stealing a bag of whey protein, valued at £32.99 from Holland and Barrett on the city High Street between October 31-February 7.

On October 28 he stole products from Holland and Barrett, including Manuka honey beauty cream, valued at £224.91.

Magistrates imposed a community order for Coles to undertake rehabilitation activity for up to 15 days and pay an £85 victim surcharge.