A THIEF who stole three charity boxes during a period of “repugnant” drug-fuelled crime has been jailed.

William Fisher admitted stealing a charity box containing £20 from Europa Taste in St Helens Road on February 26, a charity bucket containing £20 belonging to Islamic Relief in Derby Street on March 24 and a box containing £30 from the Chapati Hut in Derby Street on March 29.

Bolton Crown Court was told that during the theft from the Islamic Relief shop, Fisher and Kieran Grime posed as prospective customers, with Fisher distracting a member of staff before Grime hid the box in his jacket.

The court also heard that, during the incident at the Chapati Hut, Fisher was detained by members of staff who spotted his actions, and the charity box was later recovered.

Fisher, aged 33, of Blackburn Road, also admitted stealing cash, cigarettes and alcohol worth £420 from Shah and Son on March 13, as well as causing £200 of damage by kicking the front door of the shop the following day.

He also admitted stealing £150 cash from the Utd Food Store, as well as possessing heroin.

Fisher, who the court heard has had an “entrenched” drug habit since first using Diazepam at the age of 14, has been jailed for six months.

Addressing Fisher, Judge Timothy Stead said: “At 33, it’s a very sad business to read of somebody’s life which, as far as I can see, has been completely blighted by drugs and related crime.

“For your own sake and for the community at large I hope that you can put all this behind you one day, because if you don’t it will keep you in prison and undoubtedly shorten your own life.

“I hope you can use the detoxification of prison as a platform to build on. It will not be easy, but at 33 it is getting to the point of now or never.

“I am not going to give you a lengthy lecture, but stealing charity boxes, however desperate you are, is something that is viewed by members of the public as repugnant offending.”

Referencing his drug use, Colin Buckle, defending, said: “It’s a very sad story that the court sees all the time."

Mr Buckle said that Fisher, a father of three, has responded to treatment for drugs dependency before, but that his misuse is so “entrenched” that he turns to it as a way of “problem solving”.

The court was told that Fisher will undergo a drugs rehabilitation course while in prison.

Grime, aged 36, of Roseberry Street, Daubhill, who is also known as Kieron Walker, previously pleaded guilty to stealing a charity bucket from the Islamic Relief shop and to possessing a Stanley knife in St Helens Road on April 2, and was given a community order at Bolton Magistrates Court.