A PETTY criminal and burglar with one of the longest records seen at a North-East court Is back behind bars.

David Dale, 30, went on a thieving spree in the run-up to Christmas and afterwards, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The blitz included breaking into the same high street shop in Stockton – Costa Coffee – three times on Christmas Day.

After breaking in shortly before 1pm, he returned an hour later for cash from the till, and at 8pm to raid the safe of £2,000.

Other crimes during the spree included stealing chocolate and then deodorant from Iceland and razor blades from Asda.

Dale – who has 295 offences on his record – stole aftershave from Boots, before finally being arrested on December 30.

He told police he had taken drugs, so was ferried to hospital, where he tried to escape through a secure fire door.

Dale, of Bridge Road, Stockton, admitted burglary and five thefts, and was jailed by Recorder Jeremy Barnett for a year.

The judge told him: "That's not the Christmas spirit. Imagine how the staff felt on their return, having to clear up your mess.

"If you come back again after your release, and carry on committing deliberate, brazen offences, the people of Stockton will have had enough, and you'll get two, three four years."

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said Dale has spent half his adult life hooked on Class A drugs and even prison sentences cannot rid him of his addiction.

"The desire will need to be strong and his character will need to be strong to come off, and that's a battle he will face regardless of how ever long he receives in custody," said Mr Turton.

"He was previously living an unstable and chaotic lifestyle, and he has committed these offences is search of the drug he is addicted to."