A 22-YEAR-OLD man with 20 previous convictions was jailed yesterday after admitting another nine offences.

Michael Palmer was sent to prison for eight months by Harrogate magistrates after they heard that he had committed offences while subject to a deferred sentence and while on bail.

Court chairman Forrest Humphrey told Palmer, of Chatsworth Place, Harrogate, that he had not responded to court orders in the past so he had to be jailed for three offences of theft, three of failing to answer bail and others of attempted theft, handling and breach of a community rehabilitation order.

The court heard that, with the exception of a seven-day sentence imposed for skipping bail, Palmer had never been sent to prison.

For Palmer, Geoffrey Rogers said that up to January he had been steering clear of crime to comply with the terms of his deferred sentence.

But he had been made homeless because of rent arrears and had returned to a life of drink and drugs.

Mr Rogers said: "It knocked him sideways. The stability he and his partner had enjoyed had gone. He needed to fund his drink and drugs.''

Mr Rogers said Palmer now intended to sever his ties with Harrogate and move to Leeds, away from people who could influence him to carry on with his drink and drugs abuse.