A drug addict has been jailed for sitting outside a shop reading a book.

Damien Gahan, 53, who was already on a suspended sentence, admitted his fourth breach of a criminal behaviour order which banned him from appearing outside stores in Bangor, Wales.

But he was seen sitting outside the Lidl store in the city reading a book with his rucksack at his side, a weekend sitting of Llandudno magistrates court heard.

The suspended term of 12 weeks was imposed as well as an additional four weeks for the latest breach – making 16 weeks in all.

According to the Daily Post , Chairman Darren Campbell told him: "This was the fourth breach of the order. You have shown a total disregard."

Prosecuting, Diane Williams said the order had been made a year ago prohibiting him from sitting or standing near the entrance to local stores. The suspended sentence had twice been varied to be more onerous.

Deborah Davies, defending, said the trouble was an addiction to heroin. He wanted help but there was a long delay before any could be made available and medication given.

"You can't just go to the doctor and get a prescription, you have to wait months with a lot of appointments and assessments," she explained.

She added: “If he can get a prescription to stop the need for heroin it will stop the need for begging.”

Gahan had been in touch with the substance mis-use service and said that this week he was to be interviewed for the chance to get "blocking" medication to stop his craving for heroin.

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