A DEESIDE man who stole more than £250 of meat in four separate thefts and made off without paying fuel from three petrol stations – all in the space of a week – has been jailed for eight weeks.

Dean Ashfield, 28, of Sandy Lane, Garden City, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, September 7 to those seven charges and for stealing £49 of alcoholic drinks from Asda in Ellesmere Port.

Seven of the eight offences took place in Ellesmere Port, with one in Chester.

The court heard he had had a "traumatic year" where he had twice been stabbed, preventing him from beginning unpaid work as part of a pre-existing community order.

He had been in a relationship where they spent £600 a week on crack cocaine and cannabis.

Chair of magistrates Jane Davies said: "It's just not acceptable and there needs to be some level of punishment."

Prosecuting, Alan Curams said the offences took place from June 6 to June 12 this year.

On June 6, a Co-op Ellesmere Port store employee saw the defendant steal three packets of steak and two packets of salmon collectively valued at £26. On June 9, at the same store, £52 of meat was stolen.

At the Shell Garage, Ellesmere Port on June 11, at about 11.10pm, Ashfield told the cashier he had forgotten his bank card and needed to get it, but ultimately left without paying for £10.01 of fuel.

At Asda, Ellesmere Port on June 12, Ashfield stole £49 of alcoholic drinks by leaving through the self-serve machines without payment.

That same day Ashfield was spotted by security staff stealing £122.69 of meat from Morrisons. He was confronted at the door and while he made off without payment, the items were recovered.

Also on June 12 Ashfield left without paying for £25.10 of fuel from Thornton Service Station and £15 of fuel from Murco Service Station.

He also stole £66.50 of meat from the Co-op in Christleton Road, Chester.

Ashfield accepted his offences in police interview, saying he was under the influence of drugs at the time and needed money to fund his crack cocaine habit.

He had previous convictions for battery while his last dishonesty-related crime was in 2009.

In his defence, the court heard Ashfield had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to these "unsophisticated" thefts.

He was not living a lavish lifestyle and was extremely vulnerable, having been the victim of a road traffic incident when young which left him in a coma and resultant brain damage.

He had been in a relationship with a woman who had a crack cocaine habit and his lifestyle seriously deteriorated as a result.

That relationship was now over and he was weaning himself off drugs, while being willing to work with probation.

He was stabbed in February this year and was stabbed again in the hand a few weeks ago.

He was looking to start a new job in London which would allow him to move away from the area.

A probation report said Ashfield was on two community orders, both of which included rehabilitation activity requirements and going on building better relationship courses.

The relationship he had been in meant they were spending £600 a week on crack cocaine and cannabis.

Chair of magistrates Jane Davies added: "These charges do not make good reading, combined with your previous record and you were on community orders."

As well as the eight-week prison term, Ashfield must pay a £115 victim surcharge.

His existing community orders were to continue once he leaves prison.