A man whose "relentless" shoplifting at a Tesco Express had a detrimental effect on staff has been given a chance to turn his life around.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how Kristian King's family had been devastated by drug addiction.

He was given a chance to break the mould when he appeared in court by a judge who urged him to get clean.

The court heard that since his last appearance King had been working with Inspire, the drink and drug agency, and was determined to stay clear of drugs.

King, 33, of Broadfield Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to six charges of shoplifting at Tesco Express, Manchester Road, Baxenden.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was made subject to a criminal behaviour order which prohibits him from entering seven named stores in the Accrington and Oswaldtwistle areas.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said the offences clearly passed the custody threshold but she was just persuaded to suspend the sentence.

She said: “You have a terrible record for stealing from shops and what is behind that is a chronic and long-standing drug addiction.

“I’m giving you a chance because you have engaged with Inspire and you have agreed to start using Subutex.

"Hopefully the criminal behaviour order will help prevent you from offending in the future.”

Nasima Patel, prosecuting, all the offences had been committed at Tesco Express and the first four had been committed on consecutive days, often stealing chocolate and other food items.

On the sixth occasion, the police managed to arrest King in Manchester Road.

She said King’s offending was “relentless” and had an effect on staff at Tesco Express.

Neil Howard, mitigating, said all but one of the offences had been committed before King was made subject to a community order a week ago.

“He realises it was a generous sentence imposed by the court last week and has immediately engaged with Inspire and is now on Subutex,” said Mr Howard.

“Should he take street drugs while he is on Subutex he will be very ill.”

Mr Howard said the motivation behind the one offence since his client’s last appearance in court had been a drug debt rather than a drug addiction.

He said King’s dad was a drug user who sleeps rough in Blackburn.

“His mother was also a drug user and it has taken her 20 years to get clean,” said Mr Howard.

“Class A drugs have devastated his family and he is trying his best to change things as far as he is concerned.”