A DRUG addict has been jailed for a year after stealing more than £1,000 of goods from a sports shop in order to pay off a drugs debt.

Stephen Hodder, 41, admitted stealing £1,145 of goods from Sports Direct, in Station Road, Clacton, when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

He was jailed for six months for the burglary, which was considered serious due to its pre-meditation and because the goods were stolen "to feed drug addiction and settle a drugs debt".

The court heard “significant” damage was also caused to the premises when he broke in on May 24 this year.

Hodder, of Beach Road, Clacton, also admitted to being in possession of 1.2g of cocaine and was handed a consecutive five-month prison sentence.

He was then handed a further month in prison for failing to attend court after he “deliberately lied to his lawyer claiming to be too ill” but later admitted that was a lie.

In total, he was sentenced to a year in prison and must also pay £500 compensation.