A 43-YEAR-OLD man who was given a chance by magistrates after being caught shoplifting within a week of his release from prison responded by committing seven more offences in the next five days.

Blackburn magistrates heard Richard Anthony Whittaker admitted selling what he stole to buy drugs.

Whittaker, of Wellington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to seven charges of shoplifting which put him in breach of a conditional discharge. He was jailed for a total of 16 weeks.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client didn’t want to live his life the way he was but felt trapped in a vicious circle.

“When he was in prison he sought and was promised all kinds of help with accommodation and doing everything that could be done to make sure he didn’t re-offend,” said Mr Taylor.

“He came out to a £40 discharge grant and absolutely nothing else,” he added.

“There were no benefits in place and the prospect of up to six weeks to be processed.”

The only people who would help him were the very people he wanted to stay away from, people involved in drugs.”

Mr Taylor said his client was quickly back into the old routine of stealing and taking drugs.

“He says that if he was offered some help he would do his best to take it,” said Mr Taylor.