A FORMER drug addict who escaped police by bolting out of the back door of a Worcester bank has been jailed.

Russell Allen appeared at Worcester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Birmingham yesterday. The 24-year-old of Cherwell Court, Tolladine, Worcester was convicted of shoplifting, placing him in breach of two suspended jail sentences - a 12 week sentence suspended for 12 months, imposed by magistrates on October 11 for four shop thefts and a three month sentence suspended for 12 months for escaping from police, imposed at the crown court on October 18 this year.

He breached both orders by committing a theft at TK Maxx in Worcester at around 4.10pm on October 21, stealing two fragrance gift boxes worth £100 in total. He was arrested the following day, making full and frank admissions, telling officers he intended to sell the items to buy drugs.

The suspended sentence from the magistrates was for thefts from Debenhams (£170 of fragrances) on September 13 and three from Trespass on September 18, October 2 and October 4. He stole two fleeces worth £104.93 in total and two jackets each worth £49.99.

He was arrested and cautioned for these thefts by a detective constable in the front doorway of the Halifax bank in St Swithin Street in Worcester on October 9 said Simon Hanns, prosecuting.

Mr Hanns said the defendant asked to go and see his mother inside the bank which was permitted by the officer.

“There was a rear entrance to the premises which the officer was unaware of and he (Allen) ran from that premises and out of sight” said Mr Hanns.

Allen was arrested the next day when he apologised for running away, describing his actions as ‘stupid’. Allen has 35 previous convictions for 70 offences dating back to 2009, 30 for theft and 16 for other offences of dishonesty.

Amanda O’Mara, for Allen, asked that her client be given full credit for admitting his guilt immediately. Although previously addicted to class A drugs she said he was now ‘clean’. Recorder John Steel QC activated both suspended sentences - a total of three months and added 28 consecutive days for the recent theft. Allen has already served the 28 days on remand so the total sentence is three months of which he can expect to serve half in prison, half on licence.