A 33-YEAR-OLD man who stole to fund his drug addiction has been jailed by Blackburn magistrates.

The court heard Shaun Christopher Smith was due to be recalled on prison licence after committing two more offences of shoplifting.

Smith, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to stealing a TV from Asda, and meat from Tesco. He was jailed for seven days after the magistrates heard he was not to be released because of the licence recall.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Smith was detained outside Asda after walking out with the TV. After being taken back into the store, he ran off and when security staff chased him, he picked up a piece of wood and used it to fend them off.

Debbie Morgan, defending, said Smith came from a good family, but ended up on the wrong route. “When they were in their twenties, he and his brother started using drugs recreationally,” said Miss Morgan. “His brother managed to keep it that way and has now moved on and is quite successful. Shaun became addicted.”