A homeless mamba user had his wish granted - a spell in jail to beat the drug.
The plea was made on Lee Richardson's behalf when he admitted a three shoplifting offences and the assault of a store manager.
Bill Soughton, mitigating, told a court: "His life is disastrous. He wants to go to prison.
"He has been on the streets and his drug habit has got worse, using mamba which he has never used before.
"It is having a really bad effect on him. He feels he could work round it better in custody than on the streets, where he could well commit further offences.
"He needs to detox," added Mr Soughton at Nottingham Magistrates' Court .
Richardson was jailed for 20 weeks and must pay £100 compensation to the store manager.
District Judge Leo Pyle told him: "He had every right to confront you. You were committing offences and he was the manager."
When freed halfway through the prison sentence, 43-year-old Richardson will start a year on probation.
Ben Payne, prosecuting , was granted a criminal behaviour order which bans Richardson from entering shops in Worksop town centre.
He said that stolen items included cans of Lynx aftershave, jars of coffee and Pot Noodles.
