A man who had been in the grip of a drug addiction since he was a teenager failed to take advantage of the help offered to him.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mark Craig failed to comply with community orders and continued to steal to fund his habit.

Sentencing him to eight weeks in prison District Judge Alexandra Preston said she had no option but to impose a custodial sentence.

"I have born in mind your very poor record for similar offences and multiple breaches of court orders," said District Judge Preston. "There has been no engagement with the Probation Service or any of the other bodies who are there to help."

Craig, 37, of Dundee Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of shoplifting, theft from a motor vehicle and admitted being in breach of post custodial supervision and a supervision default order. He was jailed for eight weeks and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge on release.

Neil Howard, defending, said his client had been given a "golden opportunity" but had failed to co-operate with the probation service.

"He accepts he has placed himself in a very precarious position," said Mr Howard. 

He said Craig had been involved with drugs since he was a teenager and was in the grip of an addiction to heroin.

"All his offences are committed to fund his drug habit," said Mr Howard. "He accepts he has not engaged with the Probation Service or other agencies that could help him with his problems."

Mr Howard said Craig had been in a relationship for seven years with a woman who didn't uses drugs or alcohol and was not involved with the criminal justice system. 

"His partner had stuck by him through thick and thin but he knows her patience will run out sooner rather than later," said Mr Howard.