A drug-addicted thief with more than 100 offences to his name has admitted shoplifting two bottles of perfume for Christmas presents.

Gary Youngs, of Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, claimed he stole the Nicki Manaj scent from Boots’ Tavern Street store in the town to give to his nieces, magistrates heard.

The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to theft from a shop when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said the offence occurred at 2.25pm on October 24.

Youngs had walked into Boots, but was seen in the fragrance section by a security guard. He was holding a bottle of Nicki Manaj, but put it back as staff watched him.

Youngs left the store, but then returned later when he selected two bottles of perfume, looked around and held them to his chest before walking out without paying.

Security officers went into Tavern Street to look for him.

The court heard Youngs was seen coming out of Clinton Cards with a bag which contained the fragrances.

Although he tried to escape police detained him.

Youngs admitted he had taken the items, which were worth a total of £60.

Magistrates were told he said he had stolen them to give to his nieces as Christmas presents, and not to sell to get money for drugs.

At the time of the theft Youngs was on court bail.

Mrs Harper said Youngs had convictions for 115 offences, 79 of which were for theft.

Lyndon Davies, representing Youngs, said his client had a long-standing drug problem, but confirmed he had stolen the perfume to give it as a present.

The court was told Youngs still had to pay £1,445 in court fines from previous cases. The money is being taken from his benefits.

Magistrates gave Youngs a community order with a two-week curfew to run concurrently with a 12-week curfew from 9pm to 7am which he was given on October 27 for a burglary offence on September 15.

Youngs was also told he must pay £60 to the victims’ fund and a £150 criminal courts charge.