A HEROIN addict who was captured on CCTV stealing from tills across south Essex when shop and hotel staff were distracted, was given the chance to kick his drug and crime habit.

Harbinder Singh, 35, of Grove Road, Grays, admitted burgling a hotel, three counts of stealing from shops, a public order offence and asked for a further four thefts to be taken into consideration when he was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

Recorder David Lowe QC sentenced him to six-months in prison, suspended for 18-months, and imposed a number of conditions on him - one of which was that he undergoes a 12-month drug treatment and testing order.

Recorder Lowe QC told him: "In my view it would be right to give you a chance. These chances do not arise very often and I do not suppose one will arise again.

"You are weak. Once you get back to heroin you just go back to crime and next time you go back to crime in this way, you will go to prison immediately."

Singh checked into the Travel Inn on February 22 but the next day he set off a fire alarm so he could steal £60 from the reception area while staff and customers had evacuated the premises.

The defendant, who has 26 convictions for 65 offences including burglary and shoplifting, later hurled abuse at police when they discovered him near the hotel in Fleming Road, Chafford Hundred.

On October 4 last year he was confronted by security staff at a men's store in Lakeside when he was seen taking £30 from the till.

In November he stole more than £56 of razors from Morrisons supermarket in Grays and the following month he stole £120 from an unattended cash register at Wilkinson's in Westgate Park, Basildon.