A soldier has admitted stealing and hoarding women's underwear on three separate occasions.

Didcot magistrates heard yesterday that police found 62 items of women's underwear when they searched the accommodation of William Marriott, 27, of Geneva Road, Darlington, County Durham.

Marriott was a private in the Royal Logistics Corps at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon when he committed the thefts.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of theft, one charge of burglary and asked for another case of theft to be taken into consideration.

Simon Clements, prosecuting, told the court that Sian Cornish, serving with the Royal Logistics Corps at Dalton Barracks, had returned from Christmas break to find clothes missing. Marriott pleaded guilty to the theft and told police that he had hoarded the items and had no intention of returning them.

He also admitted burglary after stealing women's clothes on two other occasions.

Andrew Stone, defending, described Marriott as "a vulnerable and isolated man".

He said that Marriott accepted responsibility for the thefts, but could not explain why he had stolen women's clothing. The court heard that the items were recovered in good condition.

Mr Stone said that Marriott has suffered for his actions at the hands of his colleagues. On the first night he returned to Dalton Barracks after a police interview, the court heard that he was assaulted by the partner of the one of the aggrieved women. His car tyres were also slashed on two occasions.

Marriott was sentenced to a 12-month community probation order and ordered to pay a total of £208 in compensation and costs.