A DRUG addict who stole to feed his habit was sentenced to a total of six weeks in prison.

Samuel Scarrett, aged 26, of Cedar Avenue, Brickfields, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court charged with theft, resisting a police officer, and breaching a community order.

The court heard how on January 31 he was seen on CCTV stealing meat from the Co-op on Lichfield Avenue, Ronkswood, Worcester.

On Wednesday, February 14, he was seen by a police officer at 2.45pm at the post office on Foregate Street. The officer recognised him because of a warrant for his arrest after he breached a community order.

Scarrett ran away from the policeman but was followed as far as the back of the Salvation Army building, The Trinity, Trinity Street.

Mark Sheward, defending, asked district judge Bruce Morgan to give consideration to the fact Scarrett was a drug addict and stole because of that reason only.

"If you stop him using heroin, you will stop his stealing," he said.

District judge Morgan gave Scarrett credit for his early guilty plea but sentenced him to three weeks for the theft, one week for obstructing the officer, and two weeks for the breach of the community order. He also said the order could continue.