A SKIPTON man feared being sent back to prison because everyone was 'wild on spice' and he feared for his life, heard magistrates.

Simon McMinn, 40, who the court heard was in danger of drinking himself to death, is facing possible custody after admitting stealing £75 of groceries from Morrisons while on a suspended prison sentence.

On August 15, the day after being released from prison, he went into the Skipton supermarket, filled a trolley with groceries and visited the cafe before attempting to leave without paying.

Watched by members of staff, he made for the exit, where he was stopped, and the groceries recovered, heard the Skipton court.

The court heard that McMinn, currently drank three litres of cider every day and suffered delirium tremens if he stopped.

On the day he went into Morrisons, he had taken Methadone, commonly prescribed as a Heroin substitute, and could remember little about what had happened.

In mitigation, Mark Newall, said McMinn could actually have paid for the groceries on the day, but for some reason had not.

Mr Newall said McMinn's lifestyle had made him look considerably older than his 40 years. He had been in work until 2010 when the recession had left him without a job and in a downward spiral. He was now a very unwell man who drank three litres of cider a day, said Mr Newall.

"If he continues with his current lifestyle, he is putting his life at risk, he has not gone long if he carries on the way he is," he said.

McMinn wanted to be united with his daughter and grandchild, but had been told that was not possible unless he turned his life around, said Mr Newall.

He was also in fear of being returned to prison, where he claimed people were frequently using the highly addictive chemical, spice.

"He tells me he has had enough of his previous lifestyle prior to going into prison, and he has found that the lads in there are running wild on spice, he is scared for his life in there," he said.

McMinn, of Bennett Street, was told by magistrates they were not activating his suspended sentence, and that they were asking for reports before they sentenced him on September 29. He was allowed conditional bail in that he not enter Morrisons.