A HEROIN addict who has “had enough” and wants to “go down a different path” has been jailed after admitting stealing 14 watches from the same Wrexham store.

Craig Michael Lambert, 45, of no fixed abode, also admitted stealing air fresheners and tooth brushes within the space of five days and to another charge of threatening behaviour towards a security guard at the Co-op store on Lord Street.

Anouska Youds, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates Court how Lambert entered the TK Maxx store on Plas Coch Retail Park at around 2pm on October 31 where he stole five watches before returning just 15 minutes later to take four more.

Lambert, who was subject to a 30 day suspended prison sentence, also stole an air freshener and and an unknown number of refills from Wilkinson’s on Island Green on November 3, before moving on to the Savers Health and Beauty Store on Hope Street, where he stole 12 toothbrushes.

Ms Younds said that although Lambert had been detained by police and the toothbrushes recovered, he was released on the basis of providing them with an informal interview at a later stage, and the next day, went back to TK Maxx where he stole another four watches.

The court also heard how on November 12, Lambert had become abusive to a security guard at the town centre branch of the Co-op, after he had been told he was not allowed in because he was banned. Lambert, who said he only wanted to buy some tin foil, threatened to knock the security guard out, before leaving.

Catherine Jagger, defending, said her client was “in a desperate situation” due to the fact “heroin had yet again come back and taken over his life”.

Ms Jagger said how Lambert had told her in the cells, “I’ve had enough Cath. I just want to go down a different path” before she told the court that there’s a simple reason you don’t see many 45-year-old heroin users, “because they’re all dead”.

She went on to say how Lambert no longer got any buzz from using heroin, and stole the items as a way to fund his habit and to just “feel normal”.

Magistrates decided to activate the 30 day suspended sentence, while also ordering him to serve an identical term for the threatening behaviour, and another 30 days for the theft matters, meaning a total of 90 days in prison.

Lambert must also pay compensation of £350 to TK Maxx and £50 to Wilko’s and upon his release will also be subject of a criminal behaviour order that prohibits him from entering both the Plas Coch and Island Green retail parks.