A DRUG addict shoplifter who hid stolen goods down his jogging bottoms has had his appeal against a prison sentence thrown out by a judge.

Serving prisoner Clint Hubble had his appeal against a 12 week consecutive prison sentence rejected by Nicolas Cartwright QC who told him he should have been jailed for even longer.

The 40-year-old of Bewdley Road, Kidderminster, was told by the judge, sitting with the two sentencing magistrates, that their decision was correct and, if anything, he should spend longer behind bars.

Hubble lodged his appeal against sentence on February 24, the day he was jailed for 12 weeks at Kidderminster Magistrates Court.

The sentence was imposed for eight offences (seven shoplifting and one drugs offence), all committed in Kidderminster.

The offences involved the theft of £58 worth of teeth whitening products from Boots on September 12 last year, theft of two electric razors worth £30 each from Boots on September 16, theft of £156 worth of clothing from Sainsbury’s on September 26, theft of six bottles of perfume worth £120 from TK Maxx on October 14, theft of £44.80 of meat from Tesco in Stourport Road on October 14, possession of methadone (a drug of class A) on September 26 and theft from Matalan on November 7.

Marc Davies, prosecuting, said: “The thefts involved him putting items down his trousers and leaving the shop.”

Hubble was told by Boots staff to put a £30 electric razor back before returning later and putting the same item down his trousers. The razor was not recovered. Thirty minutes later he returned and stole another razor. Again it was not recovered.

When he stole clothing from Sainsbury’s he was detained.

Police found in his possession a bottle of methadone which had been prescribed to someone else.

There was a struggle between Hubble and two female security staff over a bag of stolen goods at Matalan during which the bag ripped.

Hubble has 48 convictions for 131 offences going back to 1990, including for theft and burglary.

William Dudley, defending, said: “He has for virtually all his adult life been a class A drug addict. He has a poor record. There’s no getting away from that.”

Hubble was sent to prison for 24 weeks on December 15 last year.

Mr Dudley said Hubble would have been eligible for release on March 8 had magistrates not given him a 12 week sentence in addition to that imposed in December.

He argued that to sentence to him 12 consecutive weeks ran against the totality principle and became ‘potentially unfair’.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright QC, sitting with the sentencing magistrates, told Hubble his offences must have been committed while on bail and were 'obviously a theft to order'.

He added: "The state has provided a good deal of help to try to get you off drugs and put your addiction behind you.

"The magistrates were quite right to conclude that, against the background outlined, there was no question of anything but an immediate custodial sentence.

"There is nothing wrong with that decision. We think it should have been more more than 12 weeks but, in all the circumstances, it sees wrong to increase the sentence. Appeal dismissed."