ELDERLY victims parted with cash in response to a bogus charity appeal, magistrates heard.

They agreed to pay sponsorship for a walk up Snowdon in support of Children in Need, said Kerry Moreton, prosecuting at Kidderminster. The scheme was an invention of the collector.

Richard Price, 21, of Westbourne Street, Bewdley, admitted six offences of obtaining money by deception.

He was ordered to repay £14 he had obtained and was fined £100, with £50 costs.

Price had knocked on doors in Bewdley and Kidderminster and produced sponsorship forms.

The victims parted with amounts between £1 and £5. Later police raided his home and seized copies of the forms.

Price worked as a chef and was a young man who should have found a better use for his initiative, said his solicitor, Charles Hobbs.

He had been funding a heroin habit for three years but had no previous conviction. He was now receiving professional treatment for his addiction.

The prosecution dropped six identical charges against Price's brother, Benjamin, 19, of the same address.

He denied another, similar offence and was bailed to await trial in the magistrates court.