A HEROIN addict who stole to feed his habit continued to offend despite being given a chance to change his ways.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mark Antony Bateman had failed to respond to community supervision including a drug rehabilitation requirement.

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And when he came back to court for four more offences of shoplifting he was jailed.

Bateman, 36, of Sandringham Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to stealing from Fulton Foods on three occasions and once from Asda.

He was jailed for 18 weeks.

Scott Parker, defending, said his client had been frank about the reason for the offences which was simply to raise money to buy heroin.

“There is a lot of help available to people like him with a heroin problem but he has not made the most of it,” said Mr Parker.