A MAN who did so well with his alcohol treatment programme that he was awarded a diploma by the prison service found himself back in a cell within hours of his release.

Daniel McGann, 33, of Erin Court, walked out of Exeter prison last Friday morning after almost two months behind bars.

He had been sentenced for offences committed while drunk and had been working with the alcohol group while in prison – and even received a diploma for his efforts.

However, McGann was back at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday to plead guilty to stealing a bottle of whisky worth £30 from Sainsbury’s in the town centre later the same day.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told the court that McGann was seen to enter the store and head straight to the alcohol aisle where he selected the bottle.

He then walked straight past the tills and out the door making no attempt to pay – he was arrested by the police a short distance away.

Gordon Hotson, defending McGann, explained that upon his release, the temptation to buy beer was too much and he headed straight to a shop where he purchased several cans of strong lager before taking the train back to Swindon.

Mr Hotson said: “Having been abstinent since his incarceration in August, the beer had somewhat of a disproportionate effect on him.

“He accepts that he shouldn’t have drunk, he should have stuck to his guns.”

Such was his level of intoxication, McGann fell and injured his face – he was sporting a sizeable black eye and stitches when he appeared in the dock.

Mr Hotson said that his client had no recollection of the theft of the whisky, but that he regretted it.

“He doesn’t want to continue being a nuisance drunk, he feels he needs some longer term help with his alcoholism in the community.”

Magistrates asked the probation service to consider whether McGann was suitable for a formal community based alcohol treatment programme.

They were told he was not, the probation officer said he was “too far down the road.”

Displaying some sympathy towards his predicament, the chairman of the bench, Alison Auvray told McGann: “We can understand fully how you’ve ended up in the situation you found yourself in.

“But equally you have had some good help in prison that you need to build on.

“You can’t just keep going through life as a drunk.”

McGann was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity as directed by the probation service.

It was suggested that these days could include some sort of alcohol education sessions.

McGann will not have to pay costs to Sainsbury’s or a victim surcharge due to the weekend he had spent in police custody.