AN ALCOHOLIC thief who has managed to reduce his intake from nine litres of cider each day to three, could face jail for his his 107th offence.

But Raymond Janes, of Hillbeck Street, South Church, Bishop Auckland, was described by probation staff as 'always polite' and making an effort to turn his life around.

The 35-year-old admitted stealing a £15 crate of Kronenbourg from Asda on March 3, when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe this week.

The court heard the offence meant he was in breach of a six-month suspended prison sentence from Durham Crown Court which was imposed last year for a number of shop thefts, and a theft from a person. The breach could see him locked up.

Emma Barker, prosecuting, said: "The impact statement from the store said that it was the same old story, from a prolific shoplifter who takes things without paying for them."

She said Janes had 59 convictions from 106 offences, 70 of which were for theft.

John Clish, for Janes, said: "He is a long-term alcoholic. He says he has reduced from drunking nine litres of cider to three litres of cider a day."

Probation officers said he had cooperated well with his probation order, and that he always presented a polite attitude.

He was also fully engaging with his alcohol work and was making good progress with his offender manager.

The court heard he was trying as much as he could to address the difficult problem which was his alcohol misuse.

And he had accepted that he had a long-standing issue with alcohol, which was starting to seriously affect his health.

Due to his problems he was unsuitable to take on programmes of unpaid work – and probation said he was already accessing all of the intervention possible that they had to offer him.

Magistrates decided to refer him back to the Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded on unconditional bail and will next appear at Durham Crown Court on Friday, April 13.