A NORTH-EAST soldier with a fetish for stealing women's underwear from the wives of Army colleagues was punished by magistrates yesterday.

Private William Marriott hoarded women's lingerie in a secret stash at his Army quarters.

The 27-year-old also stole a wedding dress from an Army couple's bedroom while they were on holiday, and raided a laundrette, stealing dozens of items of underwear.

Magistrates at Didcot, Oxfordshire, heard how Marriott, from Darlington, County Durham, was beaten up by Army colleagues when his fetish was exposed.

The Army engineer, who was based with the Royal Logistics Corps at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, had a stash of 62 items of women's underwear, including stockings, knickers, skirts, and a wedding dress.

Simon Clemence, prosecuting, told how Marriott let himself into Sean and Anja Bedford's home in the barracks while the couple were on holiday.

Once inside, he raided their wardrobe, stealing items of Mrs Bedford's clothing, including her wedding dress.

Marriott had been set to pick the couple up when they returned from a holiday to Australia on January 18 this year.

However, following confusion over dates, Marriott had gone to Gatwick Airport a day early.

He claimed that he stole Mrs Bedford's underwear because he was annoyed about the wasted journey.

Andrew Stone, defending, said that Marriott had since moved to Darlington for his own safety, following a number of attacks on him.

He said Marriott had requested a discharge from the Army and would have to answer disrepute charges.

Mr Stone said that unmarried Marriott, of Geneva Road, had a difficult upbringing after leaving home aged 15, and added that he had kept out of trouble until now.

Marriott admitted a charge of theft and a charge of burglary. He also asked for another theft, on February 20 this year, to be taken into account.

He was sentenced to a 12- month community rehabilitation order. He was also ordered to pay £118 costs.