A ‘PROFESSIONAL thief’ stole almost £1,000 worth of clothes and alcohol from Weston stores to fund his drug habit.

Graham Farr, aged 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft - twice from Waitrose in Phillips Road and once from Marks & Spencer in High Street.

Chair of the bench at North Somerset Courthouse, Alan Webb, described Farr, of Churchill Road, as ‘a professional thief’.

He said: “Looking at your record, which can only be described as atrocious, it is clear you have fallen off the wagon and want to get back on.”

Jane Cooper, prosecuting, said Farr went into Waitrose, put items in his trolley and left through the main doors making no attempt to pay.

The court also heard how he entered Marks & Spencer several times from January 26-28. He went on to select five pairs of jeans and eight skirts to the value of £535 and left without paying.

Kieran Hughes, mitigating, explained how Farr’s partner was pregnant and he was ‘desperate’ to go back into detox.

He said: “There have been a number of listings and they are all drug-related, he needs the help of the authorities.

“He managed to overcome his drug addiction and work as a volunteer support worker.”

Mr Hughes told the court Farr relapsed when his brother died and his relationship broke down.

Farr, who magistrates described as having a ‘lengthy list of priors’, was also on breach of his bail for a theft offence in August 2012.

At Monday’s hearing he was sentenced to a 12-month community sentence with a supervision order, as well as a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme with screening.

He was ordered to pay £436.99 compensation to Waitrose and £535 to Marks & Spencer, as well as £60 victim surcharge.