A PROLIFIC shoplifter has appeared before magistrates for the second time in two weeks.

Martin Morgan, 31, of Fairholm, pleaded guilty to stealing cheeses and a joint of ham worth £45 from the Co-op in Brewery Street on September 9.

He also admitted making off with Barcadi rum and vodka to the value of £84 from the same company’s Old Town store.

He was also charged with stealing Paw Patrol play sets worth £80 from The Entertainer but prosecutors offered no evidence and the matter was dismissed.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told the court that the offences both pre-dated a community order imposed for three other shoplifting matters on September 12.

The order will involve a drug rehabilitation requirement package.

Gordon Hotson, defending, told the magistrates that had the offences been dealt with at the same time as the previous three then Morgan would not have been before the court.

He added: “Up to 2013 he was as regular a visitor to this court as some advocates - 2014 shows a significant reduction in offending and there was one appearance in 2015.”

He went on to explain how a recent spate of re-offending had been prompted by Morgan’s return to drug use, itself prompted by a relationship breakdown.

But Mr Hotson said his client was ready and willing to work with the probation service to rid himself of that drug habit.

The magistrates ordered Morgan to pay £45 in compensation to the Co-op – it will be added to an already lengthy list of outstanding fines owed to the court.

For the second offence they fined him £50 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £30 but deemed both those amounts paid as a result of the time he had spent in a police cell awaiting his court appearance.

The chairman of the bench, Alison Auvray, told him they would not be varying his community order.

She said: “We feel the order you’ve already got is sufficiently onerous as to help you get off drugs.”