A MAN who turned to crime after being discharged injured from the Army asked magistrates to jail him - and got his wish.

The bench heard that Wayne Noone, 25, had 34 previous convictions. He also had a drug habit, had turned to injecting heroin and wanted to kick his addiction.

The defendant, formerly in the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, wanted a short prison term to detoxify and had handed himself in to police.

Noone, who had gone shoplifting in Asda and attracted attention because he was barred, was given four months in custody.

Noone, of Holme Street, Burnley, admitted theft, failing to surrender and having a lock knife.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, told the court Noone stole three packets of meat from Asda. When police were called he told them he had a lock knife in his pocket. David Lawson, defending, said Noone had been released from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment because of a "terrible accident" to his ankle. Until then he had not been in trouble. Noone had stolen on this occasion to buy food and not drugs, he added.

Mr Lawson said Noone had turned to heroin and amphetamine and had started injecting drugs.

Mr Lawson went on: "He asks for a short term custodial sentence and a chance to sort himself out so that he may be able to detoxify and look to the future."

The solicitor said the knife was not brandished and Noone did not threaten anybody.