Prison term for man who burgled pizza outlet in Ballymena on July 12

Dean David Speirs (28), of Dunclug Gardens in the town, also admitted stealing a shirt worth £30 from TK Maxx and food worth £23 from a Spar shop in Ballymena on June 7.

On June 11 he stole food worth £12 from another Spar shop in Ballymena and he had taken goods worth £12 from Poundland on July 11.

He appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, via video link from prison where he had been on remand.

The court heard Apache Pizza had been burgled at 2.15am on July 12. A door had been forced and a till, £30 cash, some drinks and a tip jar "with unknown contents" were taken.

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The defendant was identified from CCTV. When interviewed the defendant initially told police he "couldn't remember" the burglary.

In the TK Maxx incident the defendant entered the store "with his dog" and two females and took a Polo top.

A defence barrister said the thefts were to "fuel drug addiction" and the defendant's life had been "spiralling out of control" but he is now trying to turn his life around.

The lawyer said Speirs had taken the clothing from TK Maxx "because he genuinely wanted to feel good about himself". The offences had been in breach of suspended jail sentences.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was "somewhat of a depressing picture" that the offending was "fuelled by an addiction to drugs".