A REPEAT offender who often "engineered" his arrest so he could get somewhere warm to sleep was caught stealing just two days after he had been released from prison.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the last time he was released Chris Costello had managed four days of freedom.

And the court was told Costello was locked into a "revolving door" and prison.

Costello, 55, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to stealing four cans of Stella Artois from Tesco in Colne. He was jailed for 12 weeks and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge on release.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Costello had walked into the store at 2.50 pm, selected the cans and left without paying.

He was challenged by a member of staff who said he was ringing the police and Costello asked if he looked like he was bothered.

"He briefly squared up to the member of staff but quickly calmed down, hugged him and then left," said Miss Allan.

Nick Dearing, defending, said his client had been struggling with alcoholism and had not been able to secure accommodation.

"He struggles to cope and finds himself committing offences soon after his release," said Mr Dearing.

"He often engineers his arrest so he has somewhere warm to sleep."

Mr Dearing said if it wasn't for his record the offence would not come anywhere near the custody threshold.