A homeless man will be sentenced next week for stealing a mobile phone from a woman and using her bank card at a convenience store.

Wesley Magney, 41, became involved in an a verbal altercation with Minaal Ali at about 1.30am on Sunday, April 7 in Colchester High Street.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday how Ms Ali got into a taxi after the confrontation and could not find her iPhone.

She then realised her bank card – which she kept inside her mobile phone case – was also missing.

Fraud - Wesley Magney used Minaal Ali's card at a Spar convenience storeWesley Magney used Minaal Ali's card at a Spar convenience store (Image: Google Street View)

Magney, whose address at the time of the offence was Sycamore Way, South Ockendon, had taken the phone and the bank card, using the latter at the Spar store in Colchester High Street to make two separate transactions which totalled £32.98.

Ms Ali then cancelled the card, with Magney having two further transactions declined.

There was then a separate incident the same night between Magney and another man, Zachary Miah.

Marie Ellis, prosecuting, said: “Later in Colchester High Street there was a traffic enforcement officer who heard shouting from the Spar store."

Magney hurled racial abuse at Mr Miah, before being taken to Colchester police station where Ms Ali's phone and bank card was found inside the defendant's rucksack.

He admitted one charge each of racially aggravated harassment, theft, and fraud.

A separate charge of using threatening language was dropped.

When Magney was asked by a court officer to confirm whether his address was still in South Ockendon, he replied: “No – I’m homeless.”

Magney did not face punishment on Tuesday because he is being sentenced on a separate charge next Monday.

Sentence - Wesley Magney will be sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court next MondayWesley Magney will be sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court next Monday (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Raphael Piggott, mitigating, said: “A pre-sentence report has been done but probation says that these matters could be factored into that report."

A new date for Magney’s sentence has now been set for next week.

Chair of the bench Beverly Davies said: “We are happy to adjourn this to Monday, September 30 so we can tie this matter with the others before magistrates in Chelmsford.”