A DRUG addict stole a rucksack from a shop office after trying to open the safe.

Michael Brown, 39, entered Farm Foods in Kingsmills Road at around 4pm on March 10, went into the warehouse and then the office.

Brown, of no fixed abode, picked up a rucksack, found some keys and tried to get into the safe, but could not and left.

Justin Espie, prosecuting at Wrexham Magistrates Court, said that Brown had multiple burglary convictions.

Stephen Edwards, defending, said that Brown had lapsed into drug use last year after the death of his sister and two theft-related offences last year seem to have been triggered by this family tragedy.

He was jailed for the second offence, and could not find accommodation in Deeside, where he was born and raised.

He went to stay in a Chester hostel, which was "not the easiest existence," Mr Edwards said.

Brown had gone to Wrexham to visit friends on the day in question.

One of these friends was also a drug user and appeared that the pair egged each other on to take something.

But there was an argument with his co-accused at some point afterwards and Brown was stabbed, suffering a punctured lung.

Brown was taken to hospital and was arrested on March 12, the court heard.

Bad company, drug dependency and a desperate need to get funds had led to the offence, the court heard.

But there was a possibility of housing accommodation near his father in Flint and while he sometimes topped up, his drug use had been moderated recently.

He was initially minded to plead not guilty to burglary due to duress, but Mr Edwards had advised him that whatever pressure was on him did not amount to duress.

Magistrates imposed a community order for 12 months and ordered Brown to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £20 surcharge.