A SUICIDAL thief has been sent back to jail, after a magistrate told him his latest offence had thrown any chance of a non-custodial sentence "out of the window".

Rafiq Shaban, 25, was sent to prison for three months after Burnley magistrate Michael Abelson said he didn't think he could take a chance on him.

He added Shaban, a drug addict, had been given the opportunity to stay out of trouble and at the moment his mind was clearly "somewhat disturbed."

Mr Abelson said the defendant had twice tried to take his life over the weekend and told him: "I don't think I would be doing you any favours is I let you out today. If I made a probation order, we would probably see you within a week.

Shaban, of Oak Street, Colne, admitted two counts of theft and attempted theft.

Glen Smith, defending, said Shaban had recently promised he would stay off drugs and did. Last Friday, however, he was visited by somebody from the past, asked for money he owed and he was forced to go with them. He knew he was going to go shoplifting to pay off a debt.

On Saturday the defendant slashed his wrists while in custody and the night after he tried to hang himself.

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