A DRUG addict who was sent to prison in July for theft has avoided being sent back inside after admitting four more thefts as he proved he was trying to tackle his addiction.

Wayne Crowther has struggled with a heroin addiction for 15 years and now has more than 70 convictions on his record, many of which relate to stealing to fund his habit.

But proving he could get his life back on track previously, magistrates gave him the benefit of the doubt and did not send him to prison for the second time this year.

In the four offences Crowther pleaded guilty to at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, December 10, he stole meat from Marks and Spencer on September 8 and a total of eight bottles of perfume from TK Maxx on two occasions, five on November 5 and three on November 13, and attempted to steal a Ryobi drill from B&Q on November 21 before he was apprehended by staff.

Prosecutor Leslie Ashton said none of the items except the drill were recovered.

The court was told that the 34-year-old had previously stayed out of trouble for five months because he was getting help with his addiction for the sake of his children. However, he relapsed when his three young children were taken into care earlier in the year, and this resulted in him slipping back into his habit and prolific shoplifting and led to him being imprisoned between July and September this year.

In mitigation, John Rogers said how since coming out of prison, Crowther had learned that his children had been put up for adoption and that had given the situation some "closure" and he had begun focussing on getting his own life on track for himself.

A report from West Mercia Probation Service was handed to the court which detailed Crowther's compliance with the service since being released from prison.

Chairman of the magistrates Brent Robinson said the report proved Crowther was trying to change and decided not to send him to prison on this occasion.

Crowther, of Homfray Road, Kidderminster, was sentenced to a six-month community order with an exclusion requirement to not enter any retail premises in Kidderminster, as determined by the ring road, or Crossley Retail Park, other than to go to the midnight pharmacy. He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to TK Maxx and £30 to Marks and Spencer, £150 in court charges, £50 in prosecution costs, and a £60 victim surcharge.