A HOMELESS man who claimed hunger had driven him to steal was punished by a night in a warm police cell and walked out of court £180 better off.

Blackburn magistrates heard James Desmond Brewin appeared in court of Tuesday and claimed he had not eaten for two days when he stole food from Morrisons.

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He was given a conditional discharge but was arrested again the following day for two further offences of shoplifting.

Gareth Price, defending, said hunger was again the motivation after Brewin had spent the night sleeping rough on the Morrisons car park.

The magistrates ordered him to pay £20 compensation to B & M Bargains but remitted £200 from what he already owed to the court for previous offences.

Mr Price said after his release Brewin had gone to a church that collected for the food bank and asked if he could have some but they said, ‘no’.

“He went to Nightsafe and was refused help and even went to the police and asked if they could help,” said Mr Price.

“He spent Tuesday night sleeping rough on Morrisons car park covered only by a thin sheet.

“He went to probation and asked for help on Wednesday and then, out of desperation, went shoplifting again.”