HAVING lost his job and suffering from withdrawal symptoms, a Chard addict went stealing to raise some cash for his next fix.

A court was told that Brendon James Whalley had a long standing heroin addiction for the majority of his adult life and had managed to keep funding his habit as he was working.

However after losing his employment in February things spiralled downwards and he resorted to stealing as he couldn’t cope with the withdrawal symptoms.

Whalley, 24, of Henson Park, pleaded guilty to stealing three bottles of Jack Daniels and one bottle of gin valued at £117 from Tesco in Ilminster on June 20.

He also asked for the theft of a chisel set worth £30 from B&Q in Chard to be take into consideration when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that on June 20 Whalley was seen selecting the bottles of alcohol and put them into a bag before leaving the store without paying.

“He set off the security alarms on his way out which caused staff to stop him and the bottles were all recovered totalling £117.

When he was interviewed by police he also admitted the theft of a chisel set from B&Q in Chard on the same day.

Defending, Sam Morton said Whalley cooperated with the police and stopped immediately after the alarms went off and handed all the bottles over.

“He told the police that his heroin use was long standing, however for the majority of his adult life he has worked so he was able to fund the addiction,” he explained.

“However he lost his job in February and was desperate on that day because he was withdrawing and did not know what to do.

“However he took the wrong option by going out and stealing but mercifully that might have been the wake-up call he needed as he has since gone to the Somerset and Dorset Alcohol Service (SDAS) and been prescribed methadone for two months now.”

The magistrates told the defendant they recognised he was now trying to help himself and imposed a 12 month conditional discharge. Costs of £45 and a £20 victim surcharge were also ordered.