A SWINDON drug addict trying to turn his life around stole two boxes of chocolates for his mother’s birthday, magistrates heard on Wednesday.

Christopher Robert Page, 32, now living at Bowmoor House, Welford Road, Fairford, admitted six charges of shoplifting when he appeared before magistrates in Swindon and to one of breaking his supervision requirements after release from prison.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, told the court that Page had been released from prison on February 14 this year after an eight-week sentence for theft.

Between March 6 and April 18 he was caught three times stealing food from the One Stop shop in Pinehurst. On May 29 he stole chocolates to the value of £33 from the Co-op in Highworth and in June he twice stole washing detergents and toiletries from the Co-op in Beechcroft Road, Swindon.

The probation service told the court that since his release from prison Page failed to attend appointments with his offender manager. He had, however, made his own arrangements with Swindon’s drug and alcohol service to try to deal with his addiction issues.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said Page seemed to do better when taking himself outside probation services and managing his problems on his own.

He had been living on the streets in Swindon when his drug addiction was not being addressed but he had taken himself out of the area in April and found accommodation in Fairford.

Mr Glendenning said his offences in May and June were because he had to return to Swindon to get his methadone prescription. On May 29 he stole two boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates for his mother’s birthday.

Page was trying to avoid coming into Swindon and to avoid his previous associates in the town.

“Addressing a drug addiction is not an easy thing to do and it takes time,” Mr Glendenning added.

The probation service told the magistrates that Page was suitable for low level drug rehabilitation and that his prescription could be transferred to a provider in Fairford.

Chairman of magistrates Jonathan Chappell told Page that he really should go back to jail but he was going to be given one last chance because he at last appeared to be doing something positive with his life.

For each of the shoplifting offences Page was sentenced to four weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, plus a six-month community order to include 10 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.

For breaching his supervision order he was sentenced to a further 40 hours of unpaid work.

“Breaking the rules means 24 weeks at Her Majesty’s pleasure,” Mr Chappell told Page. “This seriously is your last chance. You have it all to play for.”