A DRUG addict burglar, who claimed he was trying to break out of a furniture shop rather than breaking in, was slammed by a judge before being spared jail.

Warrington Crown Court heard on Monday 42-year-old James Gillespie has never had a job in his life but had clocked up 41 convictions for 90 offences since 1984 when he was 14-years-old.

Judge Roger Dutton said: “In your life time you have wasted public resources by offending time and time again.

“In fact you have been to court at least once every year of your 42 years and have taken money all the time but never contributed.”

In the latest incident Gillespie, of Stringer Crescent, Latchford, had stolen a laptop and dongle worth more than £3,000 from Sylvan Furniture, Crossley Street in August last year.

He was caught by police after a DNA match with his blood on a broken window but claimed he had taken heroin in the toilets at 4.55pm and was breaking out after being locked in.

Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, said: “The defendant told officers he had been in the store during the summer to look at the furniture and had an injury to his hand at the time (to explain the blood found.) Gillespie later pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and Sarah Griffiths, defending, said he has been motivated to become clean of drugs as his young daughter starts to understands what is going on.

She added: “It’s clear drugs have always played a role in his offending and was again on this occasion as he wanted to fund his habit.

“He does not want to be a father embroiled in drug use and has been seeking treatment from the recovery hub for the last 10 weeks.”

The court also heard Gillespie had become the lead singer of a band raising cash for the Pathways drug project.

He was given an eight month sentence suspended for 12 months and will be subject to regular testing during a drug rehab requirement.

Judge Dutton added: “The damage you caused to this business was huge, not that you cared a jot about that.”

DIRECTOR Marie Johnson of Sylvan Furniture said she was angry but not surprised at the sentence.

She added: “It’s ridiculous that we lost half a day’s trade clearing up the mess he made and they have let him off.

“There was glass all over the showroom and he took everything (on the dongle) including our price lists, our accounts, VAT returns, kitchen plans; you can’t believe how much work he cost us.

“It’s the inconvenience more than anything for something he would have got £20 in a pub for.”