A THIEF wore a special coat with holes cut out so he shoplift from stores, a court was told.

Philip Payne also used stolen cheque books in several supermarkets and stores where he illegally bought £1,400 of goods.

His criminal spending spree came to end when he was jailed for 15 months by a judge.

Payne, aged 38, of Sharman Street, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

He had admitted four offences of obtaining property by deception, two of handling stolen goods and one offence of theft. He also asked for 28 other similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Judge William Morris jailed him for 10 months to be served after he has finished his current five-month sentence imposed for driving while disqualified.

Payne used cheques in several stores in Bolton, including Gordons, Asda and B&Q to pay for goods worth a total of £250.

Defending, Alun James said that at the time of the offences Payne had been addicted to heroin which he started taking while in prison. He was now free of drugs. after completing a 10 month methadone programme and his new partner was pregnant with their first child.