A 32 year old man who continued to offend despite being subject to two community orders and a post prison supervision order has been jailed.

Blackburn magistrates heard David Michael Hodgson-Smith had five offences of shoplifting pending when he went into Debenhams and stole 16 blouses worth £312 from Marks & Spencer.

Hodgson-Smith, of Jockey Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to six offences of shoplifting. He was jailed for 16 weeks.

Mark Williams, defending, said his client had fallen into a drinking spiral with other members of his family.

"He now has an addiction to alcohol he knows he can't control without assistance. He accepts these offences cross the custodial threshold it is just a question of whether you are prepared to suspend that sentence."