AN alcoholic and heroin addict has been jailed after he pleaded with magistrates to send him to prison.

Craig Greatorex, 29, of St Ledger's Court, Accrington, said jail was the best place to help him escape his demons.

At Hyndburn Magistrates' Court, Greatorex's solicitor Simon Farnsworth said his client was struggling to battle drink and drug problems.

He said: "Craig is at the end of his tether with various addictions and he would ask that he is sent to prison.

"His is not a decision he has taken lightly and is what he feels will be best for him."

Greatorex admitted three counts of theft. On May 15 he stole a mobile phone in Clitheroe and later stole a wallet in the town.

He also pleaded guilty to attempting to take two bottles of vodka from the Co-op in Oswaldtwistle.

Greatorex was jailed for four months, and as he was led to the cells he called out "thank you" to the court. Mr Farnsworth, who said he is a family friend of Greatorex's, added: "As a young man he found himself in a group who were experimenting with drugs and his problems began there.

"He has tried everything to beat his demons and has undergone several sophist-icated detox programmes.

"They worked to an extent but his main vice now is alcohol.

"He is a chronic alcoholic and drinks on a daily basis. "He begins in the morning and often ends days later.

"He has been drinking today.

"Craig is appalled by his behaviour and very ashamed."

The court heard that he had a long record of offences of theft and in February he was given a conditional discharge for shoplifting.

Magistrates were told that he had committed the theft crimes while on bail, while the subject of a community punishment order and also while subject to several conditional discharges.