A JUDGE has called for an inquiry into why a York heroin addict was repeatedly bailed and allowed to continue a mini-crime spree, in which he drove a car at a supermarket manager and punched another shop worker.

Judge Paul Hoffman said he was "appalled" that Michael Watson, 31, of Danesfort Avenue, Acomb, was freed after at least five court appearances, during a nine-month period in which he notched up more than 20 offences.

Watson had a "large number" of mostly theft-related previous convictions, the court heard.

Jailing him for four years, the judge called on the Crown Prosecution Service and magistrates court officials to investigate.

"This can't be serving the public," he told York Crown Court yesterday .

Martin Haigh, prosecuting, said trouble flared at a Sainsbury store in York in September, when the manager asked Watson about suspicious behaviour in the shop.

Watson drove a car at him, and though the manager evaded him first time, on the second Watson reversed and hit him, cutting his finger.

At Selby Somerfield, on October 10, Watson distracted security staff while a female accomplice tried to steal food worth more than £400.

When challenged, they fled to their waiting car and reversed away with the doors open. This caused "substantial" damage to two cars.

The woman tried to leave Barnsley Asda with a trolley packed with unpaid goods on November 12. As she struggled with staff, Watson punched one worker on the nose. The worker later needed hospital treatment for fractured bones.

Watson also stole £83 of shopping from Safeway, Acomb, tried to sell frozen stolen meat, and attempted to cash a tampered cheque at Gale Lane sub-post office.

Andrew Stranex, mitigating, said his client had been in the "grip of heroin". These crimes were linked to his desperate bid to feed his habit, he said.

Watson admitted five charges of driving without a licence, five without insurance, three without MOT, one of attempted deception, one of handling stolen goods and one assault. He also admitted two criminal damage charges, theft, three failures to surrender, and one dangerous driving.

He was banned from driving for three years.

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, April 17, 2004