A SERIAL meat thief narrowly escaped being sent to prison when he was sentenced for a string of shoplifting offences.

Alan Forber admitted stealing £176.32 worth of meat from Worcester supermarkets to fund his deep-rooted heroin addiction.

Since the offences he has been getting help from the city’s drug rehabilitation team and now has a methadone prescription.

Mark Turnball, defending, said: “It is regrettable that these offences have occurred.

“You tackle his drugs use you tackle the offending.”

By admitting two shoplifting charges, Forber was in breach of a deferred sentence for four other thefts from Worcester stores.

For the offences the 35-year-old was given a six month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

He was also given a 12-month supervision order with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Forber, from The Hopmarket, Worcester, will have to pay £176.32 compensation and £120 court costs.