A SERIAL thief avoided a return to prison yesterday when a court told him a spell behind bars would not provide a long-term solution to his drug addiction.

Harrogate magistrates heard how Christopher Abbott, 29, ran from the town's Asda store with food worth about £125, which he dropped as staff gave chase, on March 8 this year.

Abbott, of Hyde Park Road, Harrogate, was arrested after security camera footage of the incident was viewed.

His arrest put him in breach of a conditional discharge for theft, imposed on December 30, and in breach of a deferred sentence imposed for theft from Asda on January 27.

Prosecutor Joan Smith told the court chairman, John Metcalfe, that Abbott had a total of 24 convictions for 43 offences, including 33 of theft. He had a lengthy history of breaching court orders.

When Abbott admitted his latest theft, his solicitor, Clive Farndon, said he accepted he could go back to prison but that would not address the root of his problem, his long-term addiction to hard drugs.

Mr Farndon said Abbott offended to feed his habit, or when he was under the influence of drugs, and if he went to prison the cycle of crime would begin again when he was released.

Mr Metcalfe told Abbott he had set the court a problem and the easy way out would be to send him back to prison.

He added: ''But as far as we can see, that is not going to solve anything in the long term.

"On the other hand, you have had various orders in the past and breached them and if no order is going to work, we are down to straight punishment.''

Abbott was made subject to a 12-month drug treatment and testing order with no order made for costs.