A HEROIN addict stole to pay for his drug habit, a Worcester court heard.
Graham Davis, of Bridge Street, Worcester, admitted two charges of theft from a shop when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (September 1).
Mehree Kamranfar, prosecuting, said Davis stole a Hoover, worth £269.99, from ASDA on July 23 this year and five days later stole three t-shirts, worth £150, from TK Maxx.
The prosecutor said the 40-year-old, in both thefts, walked out of the Worcester-based shops offering no payment and setting off the alarm on the doors.
Ms Kamranfar said in the TK Maxx theft Davis had tried to conceal that he was stealing the t-shirts by hiding them under his clothing.
Ms Kamranfar said Davis had previous convictions for 33 offences on his record, his last conviction being in 2019 which had also been for theft.
Barry Newton, defending Davis, said his client had a long-standing heroin addiction he controlled through a methadone script.
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Mr Newton explained Davis had lost the methadone script, after failing to collect them at the right times, so turned back to heroin.
"Both thefts were opportunistic," Mr Newton said.
"The offences were committed to pay for heroin to deal with his addiction."
Mr Newton said Davis had attended a voluntary police interview, making full admissions to the police.
The solicitor said Davis was claiming universal credit and employment support benefits.
Magistrates heard Davis had debts still owed to the court of £959.58, which he had been paying off.
After a short deliberation chairman of the magistrates, Dean Johnson, told Davis they were giving him a 12-month conditional discharge.
The chairman warned: "If you commit another offence in the next 12 months you will be sentenced for that matter and these offences."
The chairman ordered Davis to pay compensation of £150 to TK Maxx and £269.99 to ASDA.
Davis was also ordered to pay court costs of £185 and a victim surcharge of £26 - the £630.99 total added to the amount he still owes the courts.
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