A MAN described by his own lawyer as a "smackhead" who had "hit rock bottom" narrowly escaped going to prison.

Paul Shaw, 30, of Malborough Street, Heaton, Bolton appeared before a court for a catalogue of offences ranging from shoplifting to assaulting police officers.

He was, according to his lawyer Phillip Trotter, an articulate and sociable man who had worked as a chef.

But the court was told that over a number of years had poisoned himself with drugs to the point where he had hit rock bottom.

Shaw, who appeared before Rochdale and Bury Magistrates Court admitted driving in Rochdale while disqualified and without insurance, obstructing a police officer in the course of his duty, two offences of shoplifting from stores in Bolton, stealing a Giro, theft from a shop in Rochdale, possessing heroin and cannabis, and assaulting police officers in Rochdale.

Shaw was told that ordinarily he would have been sent to prison but was made subject to a 12 months drugs treatment and testing order.

He was also ordered to pay £25 compensation to each of the two officers who were assaulted but court costs were waived. Shaw had already spent one month in custody.

Mr Trotter said drug dependency went hand in hand with crime and Shaw would resort to stealing to fund his habit.

However, he added: "He doesn't want to be scraping a living from crime and to pump the poison straight into his veins.

"He has been at rock bottom. He knows there is only prison or a drugs treatment order. He has made contact again with his family and he wants rid of drugs once and for all."