A PROLIFIC shoplifter who failed to attend a drug rehabilitation programme after a series of petty thefts has been jailed.

Steven Mason, 30, was ordered to carry out a six month drug treatment programme after admitting five counts of shoplifting last year.

He is a long-term thief, with 59 previous convictions, and appeared before magistrates charged with another brazen theft of stock from Budgens, in Drury Road, Colchester.

He stole cheese, salmon, bottles of detergent and a box of chocolates to the value of £42.31 in November last year.

Hendrika Yatam, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates' Court, said: "The CCTV was reviewed and he was subsequently arrested.

"He did say to the PC 'I told you I did it.'"

The court heard Mason, of Handy Fisher Court, Colchester, had flouted his community order by failing to attend appointments made in an attempt to help him with his long-term drug addiction.

Raph Piggott, mitigating, said: "He has got 59 previous convictions, 41 for shop theft.

"These are the convictions of a Class A drug user.

"He fell victim to the use of drugs in his early 20s and he has been on and off drugs ever since.

"In December he received a community order, one of the requirements was drug rehabilitation.

"His partner gave birth to a girl on February 8 this year, he has tried to stop his use of drugs because he wants to face up to that responsibility."

He added: "His daughter hasn't got a great start in life, she has a mum and a dad who are both Class A drug users.

"If Mr Mason wants to be in his daughter's life he is going to have to stop using drugs, if he doesn't that opportunity will be taken away from him and he will have to live with that for the rest of his life."

Neil Hinson, chairman of the bench, said Mason would be sent straight to prison after failing to engage with the probation service.

He said: "We are very unsatisfied with the community order - you haven't engaged at all with the probation service."

The community order was revoked and Mason was sentenced to a total of 12 weeks in prison for his latest theft, as well as five previous counts of shoplifting and one of handling stolen goods.

He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.