A RECOVERING heroin addict stole make-up and moisturiser from a chemist to buy food, after his boss was late paying him, a court heard.

Paul Brotherton, aged 41, of Marshall Avenue, Dallam, admitted at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday stealing some men’s lotion and mascara worth £13.47 from Cohens Chemist, in the Westbrook Centre, last November 1.

Sonia Bellerby, prosecuting, said Brotherton, a cleaner, removed the items from the display and walked out of the shop with them in his pocket.

David Robb, defending, said Brotherton had been a regular offender for many years and had been asking for intervention other than custodial sentences. The father of four teenagers received a community order with a drug intervention requirement last July and had not offended until the theft from Cohens, the court heard. He is currently on the heroin substitute methadone.

Mr Robb added: “He had been messed about with his wages and they had not come through so he reverted to type.

“His lack of finances meant he went back to shoplifting, and he sold the items to feed himself. “The offence came to be committed through desperation and someone letting him down.”

Magistrates handed Brotherton a six-month supervision requirement and ordered him to pay £13.47 to Cohens, as well as £60 in costs.