A THIEF who flouted a court order had done everything he could to get himself sent to jail, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how James Bradbury, 32, wanted to go to prison to detoxify and had been disappointed when the community rehabilitation order had earlier been allowed to be continued.

Bradbury, said to have a "history of prolific offending," got his wish and was sent to custody for four months by the bench. The defendant, of no fixed address, had admitted theft, breach of a conditional discharge and had been resentenced after admitting breaching the community order. He had 89 previous convictions.

The court was told how Bradbury stole clothing worth £70 from a stall on the balcony at Burnley Market.

After stealing the two Burberry T-shirts, worth £35 each, Bradbury told police he could not think of how to get help. He told officers he did not want to commit any serious crime but wanted to go to jail.