A THIEF who asked magistrates to lock him up so he could get off drugs got his wish.

Christopher Strachan, 25, was sent to prison for three months after he admitted two counts of theft and one of failing to surrender to bail.

Burnley magistrates told the defendant the offences had been aggravated by the fact he was on bail, on probation, and had failed to respond to non-custodial sentences. Strachan, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, stole hair products from Accrington Boots.

Graeme Tindall, defending, said Strachan had a relatively extensive record, including a number of appearances in court for dishonesty. The defendant had a drug problem and had great difficulty dealing with that in the community.

In the past, Strachan had asked to go to prison, so he would have an enforced period of abstinence, and he had then come out of custody with strong resolve.

To a degree that had worked, but he had then suffered difficult financial circumstances and gone back to crime.

Mr Tindall said the defendant was now back on drugs and asked the court to send him to custody for a short period. He went on: "He hopes to get himself clean and come out with the support of the probation service."

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