Stuart Wood shoplifter was told by a judge that he was being locked up as a favour after being caught for a fresh spate of offences.

shoplifter was told by a judge that he was being locked up as a favour after being caught for a fresh spate of offences.Judge Peter Bowers told hopeless drug-addict Stuart Wood: "By the time you come out, you will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as they say."After jailing Wood for two-and-a-half years, the judge added: "Get yourself on a drug-free wing, if you can, and sort your life out."The only thing I can do is give you a sufficiently long sentence so by the time you come out you won't have the same dependency upon drugs."Teesside Crown Court heard that Wood went on a month-long shoplifting spree shortly after being freed from jail in April for similar offences.The 30-year-old racked up 14 offences in and around his home town after repeatedly being caught and given bail either by police or magistrates.
In all, he committed 11 thefts from shops and one burglary, failed to surrender to court and failed to give a sample for a drugs test.The shoplifting was carried out at convenience stores in Stockton as well as nearby Thornaby and Norton, and included aftershave and alcohol.Alasdair Campbell, prosecuting, told the court that the burglary was at a Stockton post office after Wood sneaked into a store room.
Wood was caught on closed circuit television cameras at most of the shops, and the total value of the goods he stole was £472, said Mr Campbell.He was twice arrested after each spate, but was freed on bail either after being quizzed or put before Teesside Magistrates' Court.The judge questioned him being given bail, and said: "For goodness sake, he had committed ten thefts. They should have given him the key to the shop."He told Wood, of Cheshire Road, Norton: "It is dismal reading, this record of yours, but I have got some sympathy for your plight."You are clearly a drug addict and the only way you can feed your habit is by stealing.
"I understand every time you are given bail there is an inevitability your drug craving is requiring you to do something to get drugs."
Peter Wishlade, mitigating, said jobless Wood got involved in drugs after the death of his grandmother when he was 18, and had a £500-a-week habit.He added: "While I don't want to criticise the magistrates, he would not be appearing for this catalogue of offences had he not been given bail."Wood admitted all the charges.