A CAREER criminal who has a history of stealing charity boxes is back in jail after Pendleside Hospice patients were the victims of his latest thieving spree.

Heroin addict Carl Anthony Mason, 32, went out armed with special cutters to saw through the straps holding the tins down in shops and a doctors’ surgery.

Mason has 113 offences - almost 50 of them for theft - on his record and his past targets have included good causes collecting for sick children and injured soldiers.

In November 2011, he was locked up for 12 months for helping himself to seven Poppy Appeal collecting tins in Blackburn in the run-up to Remembrance Day.

Mason was back in court after the Reedley hospice, as well as the Poppy Appeal again, suffered from his shameless actions.

Ted Davidson, vice-president of Burnley and Padiham Royal British Legion, said: “It’s pretty despicable. I just can’t think why someone would do this.

“It’s very hard to raise money at the best of times these days.

“We are not only helping veterans but people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. There’s probably at least one new welfare case every week.”

The jobless father-of-three stole five boxes in the Burnley and Preston areas, days after being freed from custody, while on licence and subject to a community order. He was caught each time on CCTV. The defendant was given a 28-day jail term, but had already been recalled to jail.

The expiry date of his last sentence is next February 12 and the probation service think he is subject to a full licence recall, Pennine magistrates heard.

The defendant, of Hobart Street, Burnley, admitted three charges of theft and asked for two offences to be considered.

Four of the charity boxes were collecting money for Pendleside and one, snatched from a medical practice and which was due to be emptied, was said to contain a ‘substantial amount of money’, for the hospice.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said in November, Mason took a Poppy Appeal box from a sandwich shop in Preston.

A week later, he took a collecting tin from the reception of a GP’s surgery on Yorkshire Street, Burnley.

Ms Yates said on November 23, Mason struck at Pratts News on Padiham Road, Burnley, cutting through straps again, and on December 1 he targeted Bailey and Garrett chemist on Rosegrove Lane, Burnley.

Three days later, Mason was seen on CCTV at Todd Pharmacy, Burnley Road, Padiham, producing some cutters from his pocket before using them on the strings attached to the box.

The prosecutor said Mason told police his heroin habit had ‘rocketed’ and said: “He said he was ashamed of his actions and didn’t want to hurt anyone.” Ms Yates said the defendant couldn’t recall the thefts at the two chemist shops, but said it was ‘his nature’ to commit that type of offence.

She said: “He was shown the footage from Todd Pharmacy and at that point he became quite emotional and couldn’t watch it any longer.”

Just two months ago, Mason received his fifth prison term for theft, 12 weeks for taking a collecting tin for Great Ormond Street from the Queen Victoria Pub in Burnley.

Graeme Parkinson, defending, said: “He has taken advantage of the services which are offered by Inspire (the drugs and alcohol service) and he is now being prescribed methadone. He says that in recent times, he has managed to stabilise his life.”