DESPERATE and with only the clothes he stood up in, Mark Manley turned to shoplifting for cash.Homeless Manley was sentenced to a combined total of 84 days in a young offenders' institution for his actions, which also included breach of a community punishment order.

DESPERATE and with only the clothes he stood up in, Mark Manley turned to shoplifting for cash.

Homeless Manley was sentenced to a combined total of 84 days in a young offenders' institution for his actions, which also included breach of a community punishment order.

Manley, who has previous convictions, admitted stealing a £48 kitchen set from Woolworths and Wilkinson Sword razor from Boots the chemist on June 12.

Roger Stewart, mitigating, told South East Suffolk Magistrates, "He leads a fairly chaotic lifestyle, is of no fixed abode and has little by way of personal possessions – only what he stands up in."

Mr Stewart explained in the run up to the shoplifting offences Manley either lost or had his wallet stolen, which contained his benefits.

After reporting the loss to police, Manley visited his solicitor's office asking for a letter confirming his identity so he could apply for a crisis loan. Mr Stewart gave him a letter but the loan was refused.

"He had no money for food, or other items and no fixed address," said Mr Stewart.

"Effectively he was without anything at all. He was without hope. His response was to commit these offences to obtain money for the purpose of buying himself some food."

Manley also admitted breaching a 40 hour community punishment order he was sentenced to for going equipped, two counts of theft and possession of a controlled drug.

He was re-sentenced for these crimes after he breached the order by failing to report to probation on May 6 and June 4 this year and did not provide proof of his absence within a specified time limit.

Bench chairman John Nichols sentenced him to 28 days in a young offenders' institution to run concurrently for going equipped, possession of a controlled drug and two theft offences.

He was sentenced to a further 28 days for theft of the kitchen set and another 28 days for stealing the razor.