A SNEAK thief at a cinema who became an unwitting film star when he stole staff's property was jailed for 23 weeks yesterday.

Drug addict John Blogg was spotted reaching inside the staff room at the UGC Cinema in Middlesbrough and he was identified from security camera footage of cinema-goers arriving.

Police used the footage to arrest the man, who was wanted for stealing a purse and a mini-disc player, said Christopher Attwooll, prosecuting.

Blogg, 30, had many previous convictions for burglary and he was also subject to a conditional discharge, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Katharine Dunn, mitigating, said Blogg had successfully fought a heroin addiction, but was under the stress of a court tussle over custody of his young son.

She said: "He is now realising that the only way he can get his son back is to stop taking drugs and committing offences.

"Custody would do him no good whatsoever, but a drug testing and treatment order would give him the help that he needs."

Judge David Bryant told him: "It's clear that such orders have only limited effect in your case and it seems to me that as soon as you are subject to some stress or other, you are likely to revert to drug-taking and crime.

"Only you can give up drugs and crime. I give you a clear message that crime means prison and a custodial sentence is the only appropriate sentence here."

Blogg, of Berner Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft on December 17, 2004.