A MAN whose addiction started when he was 12 had been addicted to virtually every substance imaginable, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Craig Thomas had spent so much time in prison that it was like a second home to him.

And Roger Pickles, defending, urged the magistrates to give him a chance to get his life back and prove that he could live on the outside as a law abiding citizen.

"Prison is the ultimate deterrent but the ultimate challenge for Craig Thomas is making his way in the outside world," said Mr Pickles. Thomas, 30, of Police Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to five offences of shoplifting all committed since he was released from custody at the beginning of December.

He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months with a condition that he attends the addressing substance related offending programme.

Mr Pickles said that since Christmas Thomas felt he had made great strides in his efforts to sort his life out. He had got himself on a methadone prescription, made contact with the probation service and got in touch with the police run Tower Project.

He attended at court on February 4 for sentence with the benefit of pre-sentence reports but left the building and went shoplifting.

"He is 30 years old and the addictions and associated problems have been going on since he was 12 years old," said Mr Pickles. "He now wants to get his life back."