A persistent shoplifter has been given a chance to break the cycle of jail-offending-jail.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court made Kristopher Murphy subject to a suspended prison sentence after hearing he was clean of drugs and doing his best to remain so.
Murphy, 40, of Pendle Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to two charges of shoplifting and two of breaching a criminal behaviour order by entering the Tesco Express in Abbey Street, Accrington.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £85 in compensation.
Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said the criminal behaviour order was made following a raft of theft offences which included threats and violence towards store staff.
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She said the latest offences were caught on CCTV.
"The defendant has 71 convictions for 246 offences, 167 of them for theft," said Miss Mills.
"He is classed as a persistent offender."
Gareth Price, mitigating, said following his release from prison early in August, Murphy had been found accommodation at a house of multiple occupation but didn't take it up because he felt it increased the risk of him lapsing into drug misuse.
"While he was in prison, he had a Butadol injection; he has had another since his release and is due another injection in September," said Mr Price.
"He says it is working and he is not taking drugs.
"These offences were theft of food items, and he says quite simply he was hungry."
Mr Price said he hoped he could persuade the magistrates to impose a suspended sentence.
"If he maintains his progress, hopefully we won't see him again," said Mr Price.
"If he commits further offences, he will go back to prison."
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