A DRUG addict waved a hypodermic syringe at a Black Country shopkeeper after he was caught stealing.

Serial Netherton thief Kieran Taplin had been spotted taking goods from the Tipton shop and when a shop employee went after him, and he produced the syringe which he repeatedly waved around before being arrested.

Judge John Wait told the 27-year-old he had a long history of taking goods from stores, assaulting people and public order offences.

The only possible inference from that act, he added at Wolverhampton Crown Court, was to make it clear he had no intention of being arrested.

The judge continued: “You have many previous convictions which demonstrate your long term abuse of drugs.”

Rupert Jones, prosecuting, said Taplin, who was given a 12 week custodial sentence at an earlier hearing for the shoplifting offence, had committed the crime just two days after being given a community order by another court for theft.

Andrew Molloy, defending, added: “He has for some years been entrenched in a class A drug habit.

“He knows he cannot kick the habit on his own because what he needs is intensive intervention.

"He needs assistance if he is to rid himself of his addiction.”

Taplin, of Cole Street, admitted possessing a bladed or pointed article and the judge jailed him for 10 months.