A HEROIN addict was captured on camera using a stolen bank card to buy food and cigarettes, a court heard.Nigel Plant, of Heath Walk, Blaxhall, was ordered by magistrates to pay compensation after using the Halifax card in three different shops.

A HEROIN addict was captured on camera using a stolen bank card to buy food and cigarettes, a court heard.

Nigel Plant, of Heath Walk, Blaxhall, was ordered by magistrates to pay compensation after using the Halifax card in three different shops.

He admitted four counts of obtaining property by deception on May 12 after visiting two garages and a supermarket in Ipswich to stock up on cigarettes and groceries.

His first stop was at Station Garage in Burrell Road where he bought cigarettes and a phone card totalling £13.39, said Lesla Small, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court

On the same day Plant was caught on camera entering a garage on Norwich Road where he bought goods worth £27.60.

He also visited Sainsbury's on Hadleigh Road where he bought £60 worth of goods.

"He then went back in about ten minutes later and bought goods worth £45.01," said Ms Small. "On both occasions the two transactions were caught on CCTV."

Plant was arrested and made full admissions after he had seen the CCTV footage.

Craig Marchant, mitigating, said Plant had no previous convictions for dishonesty despite the fact he is 36 years old and has had a heroin habit for 16 years.

"He is a man who has funded his own drug habit and has not previously resorted to dishonesty," said Mr Marchant.

The court heard Plant, who is reducing his methadone prescription, had a good education and always had regular employment.

Bench chairwoman Jane Fiske ordered him to carry out 60 hours unpaid work in the community.

He was also ordered to pay compensation to each of the shops totalling £146. The compensation he was ordered to pay amounts to the value of the goods bought at each shop.