AN 'incompetent' shoplifter who tried to evade justice by giving police the name and address of his neighbour has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard 26-year-old Usman Anwar stole tablets, chewing gum and underwear from shops including Sports Direct, B and M Bargains and Poundworld in Burnley over a two-week period to fund his heroin addiction.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe told the court the first offence took place on October 24 when Anwar stole £81 of tablets and medication from Poundland.

Ms Kehoe said: "He was stopped by the police and he gave the name of another man and a false date of birth. Because the name whose details he had given had no previous convictions Mr Anwar was given a fixed penalty notice instead of being arrested."

The court was told police were called to B and M Bargains on November 3 and while officers were there staff told them about an incident the previous day when Anwar, of Godley Street in Burnley, had stolen two boxes of chewing gum valued at £40. That incident had been captured on CCTV.

Ms Kehoe said on November 8 Anwar had been stopped by police, having stolen eight boxes of Firetrap underwear from Sports Direct, valued at £103.

The court heard when officers stopped him, Anwar again gave the details of his neighbour instead of his own. But the officer didn't believe him and called for two other colleagues to help identify the defendant. Eventually Anwar gave police the correct details and was arrested.

The court heard Anwar failed to turn up at Burnley Magistrates and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was present for a court hearing at Preston but after being bailed to be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court in January, Anwar absconded again.

The court heard he went to Bradford to visit family and while there stole 18 boxes of cigarette papers from Bargain Buys. When he was stopped by police he again gave false details.

Anwar, who has 21 previous convictions for theft, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, three counts of perverting the course of public justice and a bail breach offence.

Defending, Mark Stuart, said his client had become addicted to drugs at a young age and had stolen to fund his habit.

Mr Stuart said: "His means of funding his habit is to carry out offences of shoplifting which by in large he does so incompetently.

"The name he gave to police is of a man who lives in his street. If the police turned up on that street it's likely they would have seen him."

Sentencing Anwar to 12 months imprisonment, Judge Beverley Lunt said: "You are a nuisance. The trouble is, you are a serial offender."