A RECOVERING heroin addict stole hair clippers in a bid to get police protection.

Calvin Reed, 46, took the Babyliss clippers, worth £40, from Boots in Lion Walk on Monday.

Reed, of Creffield Road, Colchester, admitted theft during a hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Philip Pearson, prosecuting, said Reed told a PCSO who stopped him: “I want to be arrested because a man is threatening my life and I believe I will be safer in police custody or in prison and that’s why I stole.”

Craig Tipper, mitigating, said the threat came from someone he owed money to.

He added Reed had been an addict for 26 years, but was doing well on a recovery programme.

Mr Tipper said: “This is a decision he regrets, but he is doing well and his probation report shows a great improvement in his life.”

Magistrates described the case as “a sorry state of affairs”

and sentenced Reed to six weeks in prison for the theft.

He also received another six weeks to run concurrently for a previous theft, for which he was still subject to a community order.

However, the prison termwas suspended for one year and Reed was made subject to a year-long community order, with a six-month drug rehabilitation element.

Reed was also ordered to pay £165 costs.