A CRIMINAL given "one last chance" to sort his life out less than three months ago has been jailed.

Anthony Moorhead, 23, of Carlisle, wiped away a tear after a judge told him he had "flagrantly" ignored the conditions designed to help him stay out of prison.

He appeared at the city's crown court to be sentenced on two shoplifting charges.

In February he was given an eight-month suspended sentence for drink driving, which was activated because of these new crimes.

As he was led away he begged his partner to wait for him until his sentence was complete.

Jacob Dyer, prosecuting, said Moorhead, of Millholme Avenue, Stanwix, was caught stealing a leg of lamb and two ham joints from a Co-op supermarket in Carlisle on March 10.

Four days later he was caught taking two packets of ribs from McCalls on Shadygrove Road in Raffles.

Mr Dyer said: "He told officers he did not really remember it (the crimes) and that he had a drink problem."

Moorhead appeared at court having previously pleaded guilty to two theft charges. He also admitted that by carrying out these crimes he had breached the terms of a suspended sentence, which was imposed on February 10.

That sentence related to a him crashing into three parked cars while drunk.

This happened on December 20.

He was spotted on Newlaithes Avenue in Morton, Carlisle, by two police officers. The carwent straight across the street, from a junction, and into Chestnut Hill, which is a cul-de-sac.

The police followed it into Chestnut Hill and it gathered speed though it was not travelling at excessive speed, then ran into three parked vehicles.

Moorhead had struggled to get out of the car and had to be helped out by the officers. They then breathalysed him and found he had 51mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg in 100ml.

Moorhead had pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, drink driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

Judge Barbara Forrester, who passed sentence on that day, said: "This really is your last chance to make something of your life."

Moorhead was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to take part in a drug treatment programme and do 80 hours of unpaid work.

Mark Shepherd, defending Moorhead yesterday, said: "It was hoped that, having been given the benefit of the doubt on February 10, other than to review, he would not be back before the court."

He added that Moorhead had not carried out the unpaid work because of a foot injury and that he had a long-standing drink problem.

"He is not drunk today, I can assure that."

Judge Tony Lancaster, presiding, said: "You have had your chance. You knew the gravity and seriousness of the situation you were in and you have flagrantly disregarded the sentence."

Moorhead's sentence of eight months in prison for his motoring offence was activated and the judge gave him an extra one month sentence for the thefts, to be served concurrently.

As he was led away Moorhead shouted to his partner, who was in the public gallery: "I love you darling, wait for me babe."