A PROLIFIC thief with more than 100 previous convictions had his latest jail term cut – because of a mistake in the court’s files.

Heroin addict Terry Cook was given a suspended prison sentence of 20 weeks last year but has since breached the order four times with a series of shoplifting sprees.

He admitted his latest breach in court yesterday, but magistrates were only able to jail him for ten weeks for the breach – because the original sentence had been recorded incorrectly.

Cook was arrested on December 16 for stealing £194-worth of goods from Homebase in Darlington.

The 35-year-old, of Westbrook, Darlington, has 181 previous convictions – 107 of which are for theft. He has been arrested for shoplifting an average of five times a year for the past 19 years.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said his latest arrest came after he tried to steal batteries, padlocks, aerial leads, a torch pouch and Baby Bio plant food from the Yarm Road DIY store.

He later told police that stealing gave him a thrill.

Mr Maddison said: “He said he felt shoplifting wasn’t hurting anyone directly. He said sometimes he would even steal when he had money because he got a rush out of it.”

Cook pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates’ Court to theft, and possession of a bladed article.

Laura Sanders Jerrom, mitigating, said Cook was addicted to heroin, shoplifting and even probation, after spending so long under supervision for previous offences.

She urged magistrates to spare him jail to allow him to go into drug rehabilitation, and to seek help to stop him from stealing again.

But magistrate Christopher Shaw jailed Cook for ten weeks for breaching the suspended sentence, plus six weeks for the latest offences.

Last night, HM Court Service said that the apparent mistake in court records was being investigated.