A ONE legged man walked out of a store without paying for a set of DVDs and passed them to another man who ran off.

Blackburn magistrates heard Paul McCartney was a prolific offender who had committed 260 offences since his first conviction in 1981.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The court was told heroin had been McCartney’s problem over the years, resulting in the amputation of a leg, and was still addicted to the drug.

McCartney, 52, of Bristol Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to stealing DVDs from Matalan and bacon and washing tablets from Premier Store.

He was made subject to a community order for six months with a 20 day rehabilitation activity, made subject to a curfew between 9 pm and 8 am for four weeks and ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said: “At the time of this offence he was subject to three conditional discharges..

Damian Pickup, defending, said McCartney had a lengthy heroin habit which had cost him his right leg.

“For 10 months last year he came off heroin completely but three months ago he had a relationship breakdown,” said Mr Pickup. “He lapsed back into heroin because it was an escape.”