A MAN who went on a 'shoplifting spree' targeting Cross Hills Co-op was desperate for money, Skipton magistrates were told.

Jason Caswell, 43, stole packets of meat from the Main Street store four times between November 20 and November 30, the court heard.

He was finally stopped on December 1 when he was apprehended in the store.

The store estimated the value of stolen meat, including steak, at £343, said prosecutor Martin Butterworth.

Caswell, who admitted five charges of theft from a shop, had been desperate after mistakenly having his benefit payments stopped, the court was told.

In mitigation, Tahir Hanif said Caswell's situation had become increasingly desperate over three months. He had resorted to asking people for food on the street and had taken food out of a store's bin. He had received help from a food bank run by Christians Against Poverty in Keighley, but even then, needed to be referred by another agency, said Mr Hanif.

He also had a long term problem with drugs and alcohol and was currently on methadone.

Magistrates fined Caswell, of Aylesbury Street, Keighley, £120, with costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20. He was also ordered to pay the Co-op compensation of £343.