MAGISTRATES have spared a serial thief jail after hearing how he is trying to tackle his drug addiction.

Paul Leonard’s latest court appearance saw him admit to stealing alcohol, meat and cosmetic products worth about £190 on three separate days.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, heard Leonard, 29, of Hartington Road in Stockton, already has 167 offences from 73 convictions recorded against him, including 85 for theft.

Prosecutor Rachel Dodsworth said Leonard stole two bottles of spirits worth £51 from Sainsbury’s in Sedgefield on April 7 this year, and took a further four bottles worth £97 when he returned to the store two days later.

On April 15 he stole two joints of meat worth £18, further packets of meat, razor blades, and air fresheners worth £26 from the Co-op in Segdefield.

The court heard he is currently on two suspended prison sentences, one from February this year and the other from May, the latter being imposed after the latest offences.

The February order was for eight weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 weeks for shop theft.

Julian Gaskin, mitigating, told the court that since April, Leonard has joined a charity which helps men overcome mental health issues and drug addiction, and is progressing well.

He added: “He is desperate to break from the noose he has with regards to drugs.”

Magistrates heard Leonard already owes £3,720 to the court from previous appearances.

They extended his suspended sentence period to 18 months and gave him a conditional discharge for 18 month with a £15 victim surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “We are doing this because we heard you are just starting drug rehabilitation and we want you to succeed.”