A 45 YEAR OLD man who went into the dentists to ask if his false teeth were ready stole three electric toothbrushes while the receptionist wasn't looking.

Blackburn magistrates heard Joseph Appleton committed a string of shop thefts around the same time all to feed his heroin habit.

Appleton, of St James's Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft from the Central Dental Practice, joints of meat from M and S, four legs of lamb from Farm Foods and two bottles of Jack Daniels from ASDA. He was made subject to community supervision for 12 months.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Appleton had been offending to fund his drug habit but had shown a genuine desire to combat his problems.

"The probation service is confident they can work with him and give him the support and supervision he needs to try and brake the cycle," he said.