Skegness drug addict struggling with addiction got himself arrested

Lee Todd, 32, of Alexandra Road, admitted stealing four cans of coffee worth £18 from B & M in Skegness when he appeared at Boston Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Marie Stace said he was seen at 9.44am on January 26 to have coffee bags on him and made no attempt to go through the check outs. When approached by staff, he said wanted to go back to prison.

Mitigating, Philippa Chatterton said he made it deliberately obvious that he had stolen the coffee as he thought he would be able to crack his habit better if he was arrested and went back to prison.

The magistrates were told that Todd was on licence following an earlier prison release and was doing well now and the Probation Service would not be recalling him to prison.

Imposing a six month conditional discharge, the magistrates told him he was doing better but stealing was not the way to get help.

He was also ordered to pay £22 in court charges.