A SERIAL shoplifter struck at stores in the North West to pay for his drug habit.
Andrew Dearth aged 40, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to three offences of theft, a charge of going equipped to steal, possessing heroin, having an offensive weapon, resisting arrest and failing to provide a sample for drug testing.
He was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment by Blackpool magistrates who described him as an habitual offender in his quest to feed his drug habit.
Prosecutor Suzanne Sanders, said on March 19 Dearth struck at Asda in Bury stealing £217 worth of DVDs.
He was found with heroin when arrested.
On May 9 he tried to hide £150 worth of T-shirts in a special foil-lined bag before walking out of JD Sports. On this occasion he was found with an asp baton.
On June 19 Dearth took two televisions valued at £758 from Asda at Rochdale and then resisted when police tried to arrest him.
Steven Duffy, defending, said his client was already serving a prison sentence imposed for theft.
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