AN alcoholic admitted stealing from the same shop twice in a month.

Neil Birtwell, of Brunshaw, Burnley, admitted stealing three pairs of jeans worth £80 and a £30 Lambretta Zippo top from TK Maxx on July 26 and August 21 this year.

Birtwell, who has 33 previous convictions, was recognised and challenged by a member of TK Maxx staff on the second occasion, Mercedeh Jabbari, prose-cuting told Burnley magistrates.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing £54 worth of DVDs from TJ Hughes.

The 20-year-old, who suffers from depression, had recently accepted he had an alcohol problem and wanted help for this, Richard Taylor, defending told the magistrates.

He said: "My client lives on his own and is in receipt of job seekers' allowance and the best thing for him was to spend some time in the cells because he has come to his senses.

"He has problems with alcohol and has been denying that.

"He said that he had accepted he had a problem with drink and that the probation officers were right.

"We are looking for an order that will help him with his drinking problems."

Birtwell pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and Burnley magistrates bailed him pending preparation of a probationary report.