At one time in his life Mark Pearson served as a radar officer for the best airborne fighting force in the world.
But the former RAF man ended up pilfering from shops to steal in order to feed his habit.
Pearson, 30, of Wheatfield Drive in Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to four thefts in breach of a suspended prison sentence between October and December last year.
Judge James Patrick jailed him for 16 months.
He told Pearson: "It is tragic to see somebody intelligent, who has led a law-abiding life, to have that previous life descend into a spiral of drug abuse.
"The court gave you a chance.
"You didn't take it, you ignored it.
"The shopkeepers of Weston-super-Mare are entitled to a break from you and your offending."
Caighli Taylor, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Pearson stole a microwave oven from Wilkinson in Weston-super-Mare.
Then, with others, he twice plundered Boots of fragrances totalling some £4,000.
He also admitted stealing six bottles of champagne from Waitrose valued at £180, the court heard.
Nicholas Lee, defending, said: "His life has taken a nosedive quite recently.
"Until 2017 he was in the RAF. He was a radar officer.
"In 2017 his father passed away.
"He left the RAF and he was working as a coach driver.
"He turned to alcohol and then crack cocaine and he left his role as a coach driver.
"His life continued into a tailspin that landed him here today."
The court heard Pearson had declined drugs while on remand, worked in the prison kitchen and workshop, and was feeling better for it.
