A MAN stole protein shakes from a gym to feed his drug habit.
Damien Thomas broke into Nirvana Fitness on Chapel Hill on September 7 last year.
The former member of the gym took tubs of protein shakes and a laptop worth £445.
Yesterday Huddersfield magistrates slapped him with a community order after hearing how he needed money to fund his heroin addiction.
Carole Lawford, prosecuting, said the gym – part of a mid-terrace building – had been locked up securely by its owner Richard Dickinson.
But when he returned the following morning, he found that a ground floor window had been broken.
Mr Dickinson discovered that protein shakes had been taken from a shelf, together with the laptop, and there was blood on pieces of glass from the shattered window.
Scenes of crime officers took swabs from the site and the 31-year-old was arrested.
Magistrates were told that Thomas, of no fixed address, was also found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis at Huddersfield Police Station.
He was remanded in custody for breaching his bail conditions after failing to comply with the probation service in the preparation of a presentence report.
Andrew Sugden, defending, said that his client clearly led a ‘chaotic lifestyle’.
He said: “He first denied the offence but when he came to court he admitted it because he realised he had given a ridiculous explanation as to how the blood was there.
“He was in prison last year and when he came out he was determined to get out of trouble.
“He did this until September and then fell back into taking drugs.
“It’s very clear to me that he needs to grasp the nettle or else he’s going down a slippery slope.”
Magistrates gave Thomas a community order for 18 months with supervision.
He was also ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation order and pay £445 compensation to the gym.
