A PROFILIC shoplifter used his bed as a springboard to jump through a window and escape from police as they arrested him at his Droitwich home, a court heard.

Ricky Brooks stole a total of £3,300 worth of goods from stores in Worcestershire from June to October this year, Gareth Walters, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

He targeted stores including Aldi in Worcester, mainly stealing a small amount but on one occasion he took items worth £489 from Boots in Malvern.

"He was not particularly professional. He would walk out of the stores with the goods and would usually be spotted on CCTV," Mr Walters said.

He was caught when police recognised him from the footage and they went to his home in Shepherds Green, Droitwich, on October 3.

He said "I'm really sorry, I've messed it all up" and then he rushed off and used his bed as a springboard to jump through the open window of his ground floor room, Mr Walters said. He got away but was arrested shortly afterwards.

Brooks pleaded guilty to nine offences of theft and was committed for sentence by Worcester magistrates. He also pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody.

He asked for 18 other shoplifting offences to be taken into consideration and the court heard he had 62 convictions for previous offences of dishonesty.

Sarah Brady, defending, said Brooks, now aged 32, had been a heroin user since the age of 18. He had been drug free on previous occasions but had always relapsed. He now seemed to have got his drugs use under control, she said.

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins, QC, said the problems arose because Brooks appeared to be incapable of controlling his drug habit and he had gone on a shoplifting spree. But, he said, there were now indications he had the motivation to make changes in his life and he had become drug free again while in prison so he had decided to give him another opportunity with a suspended sentence.

The judge gave him a total of 18 months suspended for two years with a 12 month supervision and drug rehabilitation requirement. He said the escape was "unplanned and impetuous" and he included a six month sentence, also suspended, to run concurrently.