A WHISKY thief who carried out a crime spree asked a judge to send him to prison so he could "sort himself out".

Mark Sanders told a barrister he "feels he needs to go to prison" to deal with his drug addiction.

The defendant, 48, appeared in court for sentence after admitting five counts of theft and one of driving without insurance.

Sanders targeted shops in Hampshire and Dorset in a period totalling more than five months.

It was heard that Sanders stole steak and four bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey from Tesco in Waterloo Road, Poole on November 7 last year. He returned to the superstore on December 6 to steal another bottle of the whiskey.

After this, he stole two bottles of Jack Daniel's, one bottle of whiskey, one bottle of gin, one glass screen protector, a loaf of bread and a frozen pizza from Tesco in New Milton on January 13. During this theft, he threatened a deputy manager who attempted to stop him.

The manager was able to identify Sanders as the defendant had shoplifted from the same store in October 2015, it was heard.

On January 19 he visited Waitrose in Ringwood, stealing more Jack Daniel's. He was challenged by staff, but threw his bag at a store detective and had to be restrained.

When police arrived, he told them: "Everything [security staff] said is true."

On February 2, he was caught driving a Mitsubishi Carisma in Palmerston Road without a licence. During a police interview for the offence, he was shown CCTV footage of himself committing one of the thefts from Tesco in Waterloo Road.

Sanders denied the man in the video was him, even when he was shown footage of himself getting behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi police had pulled over that day.

Finally, on May 9, he stole a jacket from Marks and Spencer in Commercial Road, Bournemouth. He was detained by two PCSOs outside the shop.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that all of his most recent offences were committed during the commission period of suspended sentences.

Robin Leach, acting on behalf of Sanders, said it was "concerning" to read in a probation service report that "prison is the only option for this defendant".

However, Mr Leach acknowledged: "[Sanders] feels he needs to go to prison."

The defendant wants to "sort himself out," the barrister said.

"He was working full-time within the building and construction industry. In 2014, he became ill and was diagnosed with a heart condition, as well as being bipolar and having depression," Mr Leach said.

Mr Leach said the defendant has "clearly gone downhill considerably" in the past three years.

"He was taking drugs, he had no money, he was stealing to feed his habit," he said.

"It's a rather pathetic situation."

Jailing Sanders for a total of 10 months, Judge Peter Johnson told the defendant: "You have a bad record with many convictions."

The judge added: "It is to be hoped that the sentence will give you time to get yourself together so you come out and attempt to lead a law-abiding life."

Sanders, who lives in a caravan Fairmile, Christchurch, was also given six points on his licence and will be supervised for 12 months after his release from prison.