A HEROIN addict has been locked up after stealing from eight town centre shops in just three weeks.

Gary Jackson, who has been jailed up to 40 times previously, was sent to prison for eight months by Kirklees magistrates.

The Hillhouse man was slammed for his long record of thefts, fuelled by a motivation to get his next fix.

Magistrates were told that the 24-year-old stole goods worth more than £160 from businesses in Huddersfield.

The spree started on November 1 when Jackson stole two Yankee Candles from Clinton Cards in the Kingsgate Centre

He stuffed them into his clothing but police were called after this was caught on CCTV.

Jackson, of Whitestone Lane, was bailed by police to attend court on November 12.

But before he even got to his hearing, he committed three further offences.

On November 3 he stole a bottle of perfume from the King Street branch of Boots.

Staff were unable to locate Jackson, but he returned to the store to steal another fragrance on November 7.

Marina Hunter-Grey, prosecuting, said: “The defendant made off, but staff gave chase and he was detained in Wood Street until police attended.

“Police (also) found two bottles of Creatine tablets, which were stolen from the Health Rack in the Packhorse Centre.

“The defendant admitted all of the offences. He said: ‘I’m just waiting for my methadone, it’s taking too long to sort my script’.”

Jackson was detained for court on November 8, when his case was adjourned for the preparation of a presentence report.

He was bailed but stole again on November 13.

Jackson took three joints of beef from Lidl and then attempted to steal two bags of gravel from Pet Warehouse in Queensgate.

He was again bailed to attend court on November 22, but on November 15 stole four cans of deodorant from Tesco on Viaduct Street.

Jackson had been due to attend an appointment with the Drugs Intervention Programme as part of his bail conditions when he stole from the supermarket.

On November 16 he was given a final chance by magistrates to comply with his conditions, but on November 22 was stopped after stealing fragrances from Poundland.

Jackson was detained outside the Victoria Lane store and searched by police.

During this search officers found a metal cosh in his pocket and he was also arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

Jackson admitted all of the offences, which he said he committed to buy heroin.

He told a previous hearing that he spent up £10 a day on the Class A drug, however claimed that going to prison had never helped him.

Ian Whiteley, mitigating, said: “He’s being sentenced to short terms, coming out, committing offences and being sent back to prison.

“There’s a problem with the system with people in Mr Jackson’s situation where they have to wait a week to see the doctor to get a prescription.

“It’s a long period for him to last and if he’s not got a substitute for heroin he goes out and commits offences.”

Mr Whiteley added that Jackson was not motivated to comply with any community order.

He said: “Mr Jackson says send him to prison, he will hopefully be drug free and come out and get help.”

As well as sentencing him to prison for 32 weeks, magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cosh.