A DRUG-addicted shoplifter has been jailed for two months by Selby magistrates to "protect the public."

Gavin Brooks, 24, of Weeland Road, Eggborough, admitted stealing a designer jumper worth £200 and some food.

Andrew Moore, prosecuting, said that Brooks had taken the jumper from Michael Stewart's shop in Brook Street at 1pm on November 13.

He had been seen by the shop manager and was also caught on CCTV. When approached by a member of staff, he gave the jumper back and fled.

A month later, Brooks was filmed on CCTV taking chilled food from a shop in Flaxley Road, Selby.

Keith Haggerty, mitigating, said the offences were carried out on the spur of the moment.

He said that Brooks was a heroin addict and was still serving a community rehabilitation order for previous convictions.

He had fallen out with his parents and was living with a friend when he stole the food.

Mr Haggerty pleaded with magistrates not to imprison Brooks, as he had drastically reduced his drug intake.

He said: "It would be a huge setback for him and the likelihood of him going back on to heroin would be greatly increased."

He said that Brooks was about to start taking methadone (a heroin substitute) and undergo psychiatric counselling to help him beat his addiction.

But presiding magistrate Sheila Bruce said that the offences were too serious for Brooks to escape jail.

She told him: "They were two premeditated thefts committed while you were on a community rehabilitation order.

"You have previous convictions and have breached community penalties in the past.

"We feel the public needs to be protected from you."

Updated: 16:02 Friday, January 03, 2003