A 22-year-old who has been told he is killing himself with alcohol has been jailed for burgling an Ipswich tanning salon while under a suspended prison sentence.

Dean Richmond, of Felix Road, Ipswich, admitted entering Soleil Tanning Salon in Orwell Place with intent to steal when he appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

Richmond also pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle worth £70.

The offences occurred early on Tuesday while Richmond was drunk.

At the time he was subject to an eight-week suspended jail term and an alcohol treatment order imposed on October 7 by Norfolk magistrates for an offence of battery.

During Richmond’s latest court appearance solicitor John Hughes said it was a case of great sadness as his client has a severe alcohol problem.

The court heard Richmond had previously been told that if continues his current alcohol consumption at the same rate he was likely to die.

Mr Hughes said: “Sadly he has little recollection of what happened. It is not a matter which in any way was sophisticated because the doors (of the salon) were forced open.”

The court was told Richmond was deeply saddened by what had happened and knew he was going to prison.

District Judge Celia Dawson said she was very disappointed to see Richmond before the court again.

She added: “You have an appalling history for dishonesty matters and your failure to comply with community orders goes back through your record.”

Richmond had been made subject to alcohol treatment orders in the past but had not been able to stick to them, said the judge.

Previously prosecutor Lucy Miller said a police officer arrested Richmond after he emerged from an alleway next to Soleil Tanning Salon with a bike. Police had been called after a witness heard the shop’s alarm and saw its doors were open, while another saw a man inside the premises and then leave on a mountain bike.

Richmond was jailed for a total of 20 weeks, after his suspended sentence was invoked and he was given a further 12 weeks for his latest offences.