A shoplifter who stole four packs of curtains from an Ipswich store has been given a conditional discharge.

Darrell Newman, who had 54 previous offences including 41 for theft, admitted theft from Dunelm Mill when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

Newman, 42, of Downside Close, stole the curtains worth a total of £46 from the shop in Suffolk Retail Park, London Road.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said the incident occurred just after midday on June 23.

Newman was seen to leave the store after putting the packs of curtains under his arm and setting the alarm off as he exited the shop.

Staff shouted at him to stop, but he ran off towards Halfords, dropping the curtains as he fled.

Magistrates were told he was only summonsed to court for the offence on December 30.

John Hughes, representing Newman, said his client had alcohol and drug problems last year.

Mr Hughes said Newman had been given a conditional discharge on December 4 for other offences in July and had the matter before the court been dealt with at the same time it would have been included in that sentence.

The court was told Newman had not committed any other offences in the last six months.

In addition to six-month conditional discharge the magistrates told Newman to pay £15 to the victims’ fund.