A drug addict nicked £250-worth of CHOCOLATE from his local Co-op as he tried to scrape together cash to pay for crack cocaine and Spice.
Frankie Barker has form for stealing sweet treats.
During his latest thieving spree, he stole from the Rochdale store four times.
Each time, he took boxes of confectionery - including four boxes of brownies and M&Ms.
Staff got 'sick' of Barker, 25, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard.
The manager said the amount of goods taken has had 'quite an impact on the business'.
"We try to stop shoplifters by getting the police involved and prosecuting them, but it doesn’t deter them," he said.
"It’s very frustrating."
Barker pleaded guilty to four counts of theft - relating to incidents on May 10, May 16, June 13 and June 15.
He was handed a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Outlining the facts of the case, prosecutor Catherine Allen earlier said the total value of the goods taken £247.
"None of that was recovered," she added.
"The deputy manager of the Co-op said in a statement that he is sick of the defendant stealing items, especially in the current covid climate - he said it’s ‘demotivating’ to him."
Barker has seven previous convictions for 23 offences.
Defence lawyer David Hewitt said: “Mr Barker was subject to a community order by this court in February for similar matters.
“That was for thefts of boxes of chocolates, in the same way these offences were for boxes of chocolates.
“Mr Barker appeared before these courts for an offence of breach of that order, which was admitted and he was given three further rehabilitation activity requirement days.
“He would say he has made significant efforts to turn his life around in the past few months.
“He tells me at the time of this offence he was a significant and heavy user of crack cocaine and Spice.
“He is unemployed and on benefits and they didn’t cover the drug expenses so he resulted in committing offences of theft.
“He chose the local Co-op store.
“He tells me he is managing to come off both of these drugs, he has family support and he is trying to obtain gardening work and odd job work.”
Sentencing Barker, Manchester JPs said: “Although it’s only chocolate, the amount was quite serious and it’s in breach of the community order.
“We feel this has crossed the custody threshold.”
Barker, of Ings Lane, was ordered to pay £247 n compensation to the Co-op store, along with £85 court costs.
