A SERIAL shoplifter, who told an Isle of Wight court his crimes were messing up his family life, was told he had one last chance to give up his offending behaviour.

Warren Russell, of no fixed address, admitted to three charges of shoplifting and one of attempted shop theft, when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, by video link from HMP Isle of Wight, on Tuesday, July 16.

On June 7, jobless Russell went into Sainsbury's in Union Street, Ryde, and stole food, which included steaks, worth £38.20.

Exactly a week later, Russell went into the Iceland store in Ryde and grabbed £20 worth of frozen goods, but he was stopped by the manager before he left and the goods were retrieved, said Liz Miller, prosecuting.

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Later that day, Russell target the same Sainsbury's store and made off with deodorant and tubes of Oral B toothpaste, worth £115.

On June 16, two day's later, Russell returned to Sainsbury's Local in Ryde and made off with £58.60 worth of laundry goods.

None of the items taken from Sainsbury's were recovered, totalling £211.80. 

Russell made his guilty pleas on June 25 and magistrates ordered a report on him. He appeared in custody on a warrant that day and was offered bail — but he refused it, saying he did not wish to be released from custody, saying he was at a very low ebb and feared he would self harm.

For Russell, Michael McGoldrick said his client wants to "tackle his demons", which had led to his offending behaviour.

Russell, almost £3,000 in debt to the courts with outstanding fines, was ordered to pay Sainsbury's £211.80 compensation and was made subject to a two-year probation order, which includes alcohol treatment.

"Coming to court is messing with my family life. It's got to be done," said Russell about his sentence.

Presiding magistrate, Peter Redding, warned Russell: "You need to keep your nose clean and stop shoplifting. You have a big opportunity, but it's your last opportunity, so make sure you take it."