BOLTON'S worst shoplifter is back behind bars. And today his wife slammed the sentence for being too short.

Harry Hankinson, aged 48, of Coniston Street, Astley Bridge, was sent to prison for 18 weeks for a range of offences, but wife Linda claims her husband should have been locked up for at least 18 MONTHS.

His solicitor Mr Michael McQuillam told Bolton magistrates yesterday : "There is no rhyme or reason to his offending. He is known to practically every shop assistant and store detective in the area and he always gets caught."

And today Mrs Hankinson, aged 46, said: "He should have got at least 18 months. The only way he will stop is by being in prison.

"If he's in there long enough he might stop and think and get some proper help while he's locked up. When he's out after short stretches its just too easy for him to go and do it again."

She added: "A psychiatrist has told me that he's a kleptomaniac, I don't think there's much doubt about that.

"We've been married seven years and I can't tell you much about him because I don't really know him, he's been in and out of Strangeways so much. "The person who's suffering out of all this is me."

Mr Hankinson pleaded guilty to stealing 2,000 cigarettes from Kwiksave worth £249, stealing bottles of spirits worth £96.95 from Morrisons, both offences were committed in July, and stealing £46.42 worth of meat from Morrisons on Wednesday this week. Mr David Clarke, prosecuting, said that Hankinson had numerous previous convictions. Hankinson, who also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and having no insurance, was sent to prison for a total of 18 weeks. He was also further disqualified from driving for two years.

Hankinson is a familiar figure with store detectives and police officers based in Bolton town centre.

A spokesman for the Bolton Anti Theft Group - which covers many stores in the town centre - said: "Mr Hankinson is very well known by virtually evry retailer in the town centre.

"Whenever he is spotted in the shopping area his wherabouts are continually monitored either by camera or by the store detectives themselves."

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