A PROLIFIC thief who narrowly avoided a prison sentence after stealing perfume has been jailed for almost a year - after he stole again two days later.

Phillip Mitchell, of Foss Way, York, was given a 32- week suspended sentence last Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to stealing £85 worth of perfume from Boots, in Coney Street, York, on the previous day.

But despite his punishment and a warning from magistrates, Mitchell, 34, went to Monks Cross Retail Park the following day and stole perfume worth £171 from Boots, York Magistrates Court heard.

Mitchell, who has been prescribed methadone, was sentenced to 48 weeks in prison, after also pleading guilty to stealing perfume last Thursday.

He had "significant and chronic" drug difficulties, the court heard.

Presiding magistrate Mrs Ibbotson said as Mitchell had the next day gone out and committed exactly same offence, and that nothing bar custody would protect the shop keepers of York from him.

She said that given Mitchell had offended one day after the suspended sentence was imposed on him, they had no alternative but to activate the suspended jail sentence in full.

She said that, with regard to the new offence, Mitchell would go to prison for 16 weeks - making a total of 48 weeks' imprisonment.

On December 17, Mitchell was given a community order for stealing wine and meat. He was handed a conditional discharge on December 26 for stealing perfume from Boots on Christmas Eve.

Mitchell also stole an air freshener on January 6, and on January 10 was given a new community order for those four offences.

He also pleaded guilty to those offences.

Mitigating, Craig Robertson said: "He has what can only be described as a colourful record. It comes as no surprise to anyone he's back in court, particularly as he's not on the correct prescription."

Mr Robertson said that, because of Mitchell's difficulties, the medication he had been taking was probably "nowhere near" what he needed to be on.

But he told the court Mitchell was now having his medication upped and attending his appointments.

"He accepts his difficulties," he said. "The point I make is this: he's a gentleman who's desperate to try and get rid of his difficulties."