A serial thief who stole alcohol and other merchandise valued at more than $4,500 was ordered to participate in drug treatment court.

Melvin Holdipp, 34, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a series of theft charges when he appeared at Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard that between August 30 and October 11, Holdipp stole from Price Rite in Warwick; the A-1 MarketPlace Supermarket in Smith’s; the Robin Hood Pub in Pembroke; the Ocean View Golf Course in Devonshire; the Bermuda Athletic Association in Pembroke; and the North Village Community Club, also in Pembroke.

He also pleaded guilty to attempting to steal alcohol from North Village on October 9.

Holdipp told the court that he struggled with drug addiction, but insisted that the items he had stolen were not for himself.

Magistrate Tyrone Chin ordered that Court Services conduct social inquiry and substance abuse reports for Holdipp and that he participate in the drug treatment court programme on Tuesday.

Mr Chin remanded Holdipp in custody until that time.