Drugs man jailed after temper fit at hostel

Young, 37, of Foreman Street, Calne, had been sent to the Ashley House hostel in Bristol after committing a burglary and two thefts.

But he flew into a rage after being told he was being thrown out of the hostel for being abusive to staff, and swept the screens on to the floor.

Nicola Wootton, prosecuting, said the first offence of shoplifting took place on March 20 when Young was caught taking sweets worth £1.95 from Wilkinson's in Swindon.

A few weeks later he was caught taking a £60 jacket from the town's Debenhams store.

Miss Wootton said: "He was banned from the store at the time following an earlier order."

He was released to live at the Bristol bail hostel while pre-sentence reports were prepared.

But on May 10 he was caught stealing eau de toilette worth £90 from Boots in the city.

When he was questioned by police he told them he had a heroin problem. Three days later the police were called to the bail hostel because he had breached his bail by being abusive to staff and had damaged computers.

Young pleaded guilty to burglary, two thefts and a criminal damage.

The court heard that he had a number of previous convictions and was jailed for 14 days in March for three other counts of shoplifting.

Rob Ross, defending, said: "He has indicated to me many problems exacerbated by his short-term use of heroin.

"Combined with his medication for mental health problems it was no good. However, when he was arrested at Trinity Road in Bristol he was not using crack cocaine or heroin.

"When he is released he will be drug free apart from his prescribed medication."

Mr Ross said at the time of the Debenhams offence Young had been living rough in Swindon and had wanted to be arrested.

He said Young had recently arranged accommodation and work in Leeds for when he is released.

Although magistrates jailed him for eight weeks Young has already served three weeks in custody awaiting sentence.