A heroin and crack cocaine addict took advantage of a man being in hospital to steal his TV so he could buy more drugs.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Leslie Ferguson, 41, was a serial abuser of Class A drugs which had led to a "chaotic" lifestyle.
He missed two previous court appearances where he was due to be sentenced because he was incapacitated by drugs, although he later claimed he had failed to attend one because "there was a contract on his life."
Ferguson, of Argyle Street South, Tranmere, appeared by video link from prison for sentencing today (Friday) after he pleaded guilty to theft.
Karl Scholz, prosecuting, said both Ferguson and his victim were residents in supported accommodation in Birkenhead at the time of the theft.
Mr Scholz said: "Each resident has their own room, and on this occasion the victim was in hospital after suffering a seizure.
"In the early hours of the morning, a staff member heard a bang within the building, and then saw the defendant carrying a large TV down the stairs, assisted by another resident."
When the victim returned to his accommodation from hospital, he realised the TV set which Ferguson had earlier been seen carrying was missing, along with a smaller TV set he also owned.
Initially, Ferguson claimed he had "found the TV on the landing" and that it belonged to his girlfriend, and later that his grandmother had bought it for him. It was never recovered.
He was later evicted from the supported accommodation.
Gareth Bellis, defending, admitted Ferguson had a "terrible" record of previous offending, the root cause of which was his substance misuse.
Ferguson, who was already serving a suspended six-month prison sentence at the time of the offence, was sentenced to a total of 28 weeks for the theft and the two separate offences of failing to appear in court.
He must serve half in jail and the rest on licence.
Judge Louise Brandon told him: "You stole the TV to fund your drug habit and deliberately attempted to evade justice,
"This theft caused a high level of inconvenience to the victim, who did not have the funds to replace the TV."
