A SERIAL shoplifter who stole to fuel his drugs habit is to remain in jail at his own request so he can recover from his addiction.

Jason Keane admitted 13 charges of theft from a shop having stolen more than £900 of products – including £10 worth of Easter eggs – from the Co-Op over a period of four months.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday how Keane, of no fixed address, walked into a Co-Op store in 12 different occasions and stuffed products into a black bag before leaving the store.

Keane, 50, also stole £58.50 from a Tesco store in Colchester.

Gazette: Sentence – Keane appeared before magistrates for sentencing on MondaySentence – Keane appeared before magistrates for sentencing on Monday (Image: Newsquest)

Anna O’Brien, prosecuting, described the thefts as “unsophisticated”.

Magistrates also heard Keane, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Chelmsford, had 80 convictions for more than 100 offences dating back to the 1980s.

Raphael Piggott, mitigating, said Keane had asked for his prison term to be extended so he could receive support to recover from his drug addiction.

He said: “He feels he is in no fit state to be released from prison – he is on a drug withdrawal scheme and has no accommodation to go to.

“He needs to spend more time in prison because he feels being scripted on methadone and doing work around his drug dependency is what he needs.

“If he is released, he fears that in two to three weeks’ time he will be back in court and the whole cycle will start again.”

Mr Piggott added Keane apologised for “wasting the time” of drug workers and probation, and agreed it was “incredibly unusual” for a defendant to ask for a prison term.

Gazette: Easter – £10 of Easter eggs were part of £900 of thefts from a Co-Op in ColchesterEaster – £10 of Easter eggs were part of £900 of thefts from a Co-Op in Colchester (Image: Pexels)

He said: “I therefore ask he is given a sentence that reflects his guilty plea; what he feels is that he needs to spend more time in prison so he can come out in a fit state to become free of drugs and get on with the rest of his life.”

Chair of the bench Kati Greenwood gave Keane a two-week prison term for each offence, meaning he will serve 26 weeks in jail.

Keane must also pay £150 in compensation to the Co-Op and £25 to Tesco.