THINGS went flat for a champagne thief who put himself in breach of a suspended sentence and was sent to prison for six months.

Blackburn magistrates heard that George William Wright was caught on closed circuit TV stealing bubbly from Marks and Spencer less than two months after the suspended sentence had been imposed for a similar offence.

Wright, 43, of Mersey Avenue, Darwen, pleaded guilty to theft from Marks and Spencer. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison for that offence and the 180 day suspended sentence was invoked, both to run concurrently.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said when he was interviewed by police Wright said he was going to sell the champagne to raise cash to buy heroin.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Wright had been doing well in his efforts to beat his heroin addiction but shortly before the offence he was told by an ex-girlfriend that she was HIV positive.

"The fear that he may himself be HIV positive sent him back to the drugs," said Mr Church-Taylor who produced a report that showed Wright had been 'clean' on his last three tests under a drug testing order