A CHARD man who carried out 24 separate shoplifting offences in the same store in just one month did it to pay for his spiralling drug addiction.

Bradley Watson admitted carrying out the stealing spree at the Sainsburys supermarket in Chard, and when he was arrested by police was also charged with a burglary at Chard Rugby Football Club.

The 32-year-old, of no fixed address, was brought before Somerset Magistrates in custody and also pleaded guilty to smashing a CCTV camera off the wall of a residential complex in the town.

Prosecutor Genna Morgan said that the shoplifting matters were “unsophisticated offences” where the defendant did not even bother to cover his face.

She said: “They occurred between August 27 and September 30 where Watson attended the store almost daily and stole alcohol and other items to the value of £4,253.55..

“On August 24, the defendant went to a multiple occupancy complex owned by Abri Housing at Coles Place in Chard shortly after midnight and ran at the communal CCTV camera with another male.

“The other male lifted Watson up and he then kicked it until it came off the wall causing £100 worth of damage.”

Watson was also charged with an allegation of burglary at Chard Rugby Football Club on September 8 but did not enter a plea.

The court heard he was alleged to have gone to the premises with another male at 3am, tried to set fire to a CCTV camera which was pulled off a wall and then used a kit bag to steal several bottles of spirits.

Defending solicitor Sam White said the shoplifting offences were completely unsophisticated saying he went back to the same store repeatedly.

He said: “Clearly it was an act of desperation rather than a planned act and he simply took the alcohol.

“The reason for this was that he has a Class A drug addiction and is stealing to feed that habit.”

The magistrates adjourned all matters until Monday November 4th where Watson will be sentenced for the thefts and criminal damage and will be asked to enter a plea to the burglary allegation.

In the meantime he was released on bail with conditions not to go to Chard Rugby Football Club and Sainsburys in Chard and must sign on with the police.