A 28-year-old Cleobury Mortimer man has been found guilty of being involved in the theft of a George Foreman grill from a Kidderminster store.

Gavyn Smith, of Furlongs Close, Cleobury Mortimer, was sentenced to 14 days in jail but was released straight away because of the time he has spent in custody on remand.

A jury at Worcester Crown Court found him not guilty of kidnapping his 20-year-old cousin Robert Smith and was instructed to find him not guilty on two further charges of stealing a TV and a can of fuel.

Robert Smith, of Chequers Close, Stourport, told the jury he was threatened with a wheelbrace and forced to take part in robberies. He said his cousin told him he had to steal a George Foreman grill from Morrisons in Kidderminster because he wanted it as a Christmas present for his mother-in-law.

Gavyn Smith bought a similar grill at the same time on October 29 last year so he would have the receipt and could take one back to get a refund, John Evans, prosecuting, told the jury but the alarm went off as Robert Smith was taking it out of the store.

Robert Smith also claimed he was taken by his cousin against his will and forced to spend the night sleeping on the floor at his home but the jury decided Gavyn Smith was not guilty of the charge. He said Robert Smith had gone there to help him work on his bathroom.

He said he know nothing about the theft of the TV or a can of fuel from a Texaco garage in Bewdley and Recorder Stuart Sprawson instructed the jury to find him not guilty.