A DRUG addict who stole hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol and meat has been jailed.


Anthony Reeve, aged 37, of Church Street, Evesham admitted four thefts when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday.


Reeve stole seven joints of lamb and two of beef worth £50 from the Co-op in Evesham on November 18, bottles of Jack Daniels whisky, vodka and brandy worth £300 from the Co-op in Pershore on November 29 last year, 18 bottles of spirits worth £300 from the Co-op in Pershore on December 13 and six bottles of William Grant whisky and three bottles of Bells whisky worth £176.10 from the Co-op in Pershore on December 14.


Barry Newton, defending, said Reeve had been given a 33 month prison sentence in June 2012 for wounding and a previous suspended sentence of nine months had been activated. He had been released initially last August and given a curfew with a condition that he report at the doorstep of his home.


Reeve, who appeared via video link from HMP Hewell, has since been recalled to prison and his sentence had been due to end on November 26 next year.


Mr Newton said: “He said he hadn’t got money for Christmas and therefore was involved, with others, with a number of these thefts.”
District judge Nigel Cadbury said he took into account Reeve’s early guilty pleas but said the defendant was not yet in a position to deal with his drug addiction.


He said: “You were given this opportunity of a methadone script but continued to take heroin and crack cocaine as well. I have no option but to sentence you to an immediate term of imprisonment.”


Mr Cadbury gave Reeve 28 days to run consecutively for each of the four thefts - a sentence of 16 weeks in total. No order was made for costs and compensation.