A 45-YEAR-old man went into Marks and Spencer in Burnley four times in six days and removed large quantities of meat.

Blackburn magistrates heard Alan David Shapcott blamed bad company and drugs for his relapse into crime after two years out of trouble.

And the court was told he had now got himself clean of drugs, had ended a "toxic" relationship and was trying to move on.

Shapcott, of Albert Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to six charges of shoplifting. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a curfew for 10 weeks between 7 pm and 7 am. He was ordered to pay £310 compensation to Marks and Spencer and £55 to Spar.

Daniel Fraser, defending, said his client was a former soldier who had a poor record. Following a prison sentence in 2015 he had changed his ways and had kept out of trouble until this year.

"He got involved in a rather toxic relationship and found himself backed into a corner by her drug debts and went back to old ways to appease some particularly nasty people," said Mr Fraser. "He was making some bad life choices because of drugs and the company he was keeping.

"Since these offences were committed he has ended the relationship, he has come off drugs and he is trying hard to sort his life out," said Mr Fraser.