A BUTCHER asked to be sent to prison so he could kick his heroin habit.

Paul Symmons, aged 26, of Carrington Drive, Bolton, pleaded guilty to stealing a stereo from a motorbike when he appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court.

Chief magistrate Frank Whittaker criticised the request but later sentenced him to two months in prison.

The offence would usually carry a community penalty, but Symmons's solicitor, Kimberley Kirtan, told the court he wanted to go to prison instead.

Mr Whittaker said: "Next thing he will be saying what prison he wants to go to. We are not here to give people what they want, we are here to give the proper punishment which is appropriate." Symmons also pleaded guilty to breaking his bail conditions when he failed to appear in court last Tuesday.

Kimberley Kirtan, defending, said Symmons had recently lost his job as a butcher and been thrown out of his mother's house due to his heroin habit.

"Unusually he has instructed me to ask that you send him to prison. He says he is unable to detox in the community."

Mr Whittaker said they had decided on a custodial sentence because Symmons seemed unable to respond to community drug programmes.