A SERIAL thief has been jailed for six months.

Bolton magistrates heard that Stephen Galloway was armed with a lock knife when he stole tins of chocolates from Morrisons, on Mornington Road, Bolton, on November 29, 2006.

He hid the goods, worth £15.98, in a plastic bag and carried them out of the store.

Galloway, aged 36, of Park Street, Heaton, then attempted to smuggle a £20 DVD player into a carrier bag, in TJ Hughes, on Trinity Street, Bolton, on new year's eve.

He already had a total of 60 convictions for 159 offences - including ones for dishonesty - magistrates heard.

The court also heard how Galloway had been arrested on December 1, 2006, when police spotted him driving dangerously along Derby Street, Bolton.

He was pulled over and taken to the police station where he was charged with driving while unfit through drugs.

Galloway battled with police officers as he attempted to swallow a plastic money bag containing ten tablets, which he had hidden in his trouser pocket.

Galloway pleaded guilty to charges of theft, possession of an article with a blade, attempted theft, possession of Class B drugs, driving while unfit through drugs and a public order offence.

Peter Leather, defending, said: "He is a very isolated individual with a whole past of problems. He tells me custody doesn't help him. I always re-offend, he says."

Magistrates sentenced him to two months imprisonment for stealing the chocolates, and three months, to run concurrently, for possession of the knife.

He was sentenced to three months for driving while unfit, to run consecutively. Galloway was disqualified from driving for two years.