A MAN caught stealing alcohol from Tesco told security staff he had only been released from prison that day.

Blackburn magistrates heard that in fact John Francis McEwen, 41, had been out for a week.

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McEwen, of Islington House, Great Bolton Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to shoplifting.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said McEwen had 202 previous offences, 133 of them for dishonesty.

He was jailed for eight weeks for shoplifting on November 25.

Ben Leech, defending, said McEwen had not struggled with security staff, adding: “He pleaded with them not to be taken back into the store after he had handed over the alcohol. He was released from prison on December 22 and had all the problems of accommodation and setting up a benefits claim.”