A PERSISTENT shoplifter who stole to fund his drugs habit was handed a suspended prison sentence and warned that if he committed another offence he was likely to be jailed immediately.

Christopher Page pleaded guilty to eight charges of theft from a shop – seven of them from the same One Stop shop in Pinehurst. The total value of the goods stolen was more than £200.

James Burnham, prosecuting, told Swindon Magistrates Court on Wednesday that Page went into the One Stop on August 5 and took six packs of steak without paying. He returned just before 5pm on August 7 and picked up washing liquids and gels worth £67.80, putting them down his trousers and walking out. The following day he was back to steal milkshakes valued at £3.

Then on August 9 he put more washing liquids, five packs of bacon, sausages, shower gels and a packet of hot chocolate worth £35.45 down his trousers and left without paying.

On August 14 he took washing liquids and the following day he stole fabric conditioner and washing capsules to the value of £13.65. “He sold the items to buy food and drugs if they were not food or were high value,” explained Mr Burnham. Ten days later he was back at the One Stop but this time he was seen hiding three boxes of Ferrero Rocher worth £19.50.

“He was approached and on this occasion he handed the chocolates back saying sorry before leaving the store. It was the first time they had managed to catch him at the time rather than subsequently on CCTV,” he said.

Page, 31, of Meadowcroft, was finally arrested after stealing ham, steak, cheese and sausages from McColls and being detained as he left the store. In an interview with police, Page, who has convictions for similar offences, he admitted he was using heroin and crack cocaine every morning. Mr Burnham said: “He does not know how much it is costing him but inevitably it is costing the stores and the public to support that addiction.”

His defence, Emma Thacker, said Page’s last conviction had been on August 3 when a community order had been imposed. His drug addiction had been a problem for a significant time. He had managed to get himself a methadone prescription but had struggled to get the right level and was still taking drugs when he reoffended.

She said he had been in custody for six days and had been using his methadone and not taking drugs on top. “He wants assistance, he wants to stop committing these offences and more importantly he wants to stop using heroin and cocaine.”

She said he had been living with his father but had fallen out with his stepmother over his addiction. “He had nowhere to go until his grandmother took him in. He now has a stable address. He has the motivation to deal with this addiction.”

The magistrates allowed the community order to continue, but handed down a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £179.90 compensation.