A PERSISTENT Clitheroe shoplifter has been jailed for 16 weeks after his latest offence put him in breach of a suspended sentence.

Blackburn magistrates heard Darren Francis Martin ran off when he was challenged as he left Boots in Blackburn town centre with two £40 bottles of aftershave.

The court heard the aftershave ended up in the fountain near the County Court before Martin was detained.

Martin, 22, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft. He was jailed for four weeks for the offence and a further 12 weeks from the suspended sentence which was imposed in September.

Damian Pickup, defending, said Martin’s life had been chaotic in recent months.

He had been living with his mum in Clitheroe and when she threw him out he moved in with his dad.

“His father also kicked him out and he ended up homeless,” said Mr Pickup.

“He sofa surfed in Blackburn for a while and inevitably had problems with his benefits. He would have sold the aftershave to raise money because he was desperate.”