A MAN who stole £49 of meat from the Cross Hills Co-op to fund his drugs habit was in breach of two conditional discharges, heard Skipton Magistrates Court.

Christian Pearson, 39, of Heber Street, Keighley, stole eight packs of steak from the store in Main Street on September 17, the court heard on Friday.

When interviewed by police, Pearson said he had stolen the meat because he had a drug addiction and intended to sell it on to raise money for drugs.

Pearson, who admitted theft, had at the time been on two separate, 12 month conditional charges for four offences of theft carried out between November, 2018 and March this year.

In mitigation, Gulfraz Khan said Pearson had spent a long spell in prison and was struggling with a long term drug addiction.

He was on a methadone script and in addition was spending up to £150 per week on illicit heroin, the court was told.

Magistrates revoked Pearson’s two existing conditional discharges and sentenced him to a 12 month community order with up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his mental health issues.

He will also have co carry out six months of drugs rehabilitation and pay a surcharge of £90 and costs of £85.