A THIEF who helped himself to spirits to raise drugs cash, gave two bottles back to a store manager and then walked off.

Burnley magistrates heard how Timothy Hanna, 30, had been chased by the boss of KwikSave, after he had been alerted to the defendant in the store.

Hanna, of Ingham Street, Padiham, was sentenced to 80 hours' community service and ordered to pay £14.95 compensation and £60 costs.

He admitted stealing from shop premises and was also sentenced to 80 hours to run concurrently for breach of conditional discharge.

The court heard the defendant had an extensive record for shoplifting. Richard Taylor, defending, said Hanna did not have the worst record. He became involved in drugs in 1998 and became so desperate, he asked to be sent to prison so he could kick the habit.

He was put on probation last year and had seven or eight weeks of the order left.

The defendant was now being seen by a drugs counsellor and she was guiding him in the right direction. He was happy to see her and co-operate with her.

Mr Taylor added Hanna's crime was "rather petty." If the court imposed a relatively short community service order, it would give him the chance to pay compensation.

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