A drug addicted prolific thief who broke into a pharmacy because he couldn't get his fix, downed so many prescription pills while inside - he ended up spending four days in hospital.

Shane Birch has now been locked up again after admitting several offences including breaking into the Gillingham pharmacy and possession of a kitchen knife.

Birch, 47, got inside Woodlands Pharmacy in October to steal drugs and caused thousands of pounds of damage during the burglary.

He took "copious amounts" of drugs while he was inside and had to be rushed to hospital after the owner found him.

He stayed on a ward for four days before he was well enough to leave and was then arrested and charged.

Birch, who has a care of address of Victoria Street, Gillingham, admitted two counts of shoplifting, possession of a bladed article, criminal damage and the burglary when he appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court in October.

At Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday James Benson, prosecuting, told Recorder Galaga King that Birch had been charged with shoplifting after he went into the Wilko store in Chatham on September 28 and took £60 of Ariel pods from shelves.

"He had copious amounts of meds around him. The police had to stop him taking any more..." — James Benson, prosecuting

Mr Benson said: "He was later recognised on CCTV and returned to the store later when he was detained by staff."

After being arrested for the theft, Birch gave a no comment interview and then stuffed a blanket down a toilet in his cell and urinated on the wall and floor, leading him to be charged with criminal damage.

Birch then stole from Boots in Chatham on October 9, cutting security tags off some children's pyjamas while he was waiting to pick up his meds.

When he was detained by staff for stealing the clothes, which were valued at £43, he was asked if he had anything in his pockets.

Birch then produced two pairs of scissors and a large kitchen knife from the waistband of his trousers.

Days later on October 18, while on bail for the other offences, he forced entry into the pharmacy and was found inside the premises by the owner.

Mr Benson said: "He had copious amounts of meds around him. The police had to stop him taking any more."

Birch had caused £1,200 of damage and also damaged £350 of stock.

Recorder King was told he has a history of similar offending, including two previous convictions for carrying a bladed article, but had stayed out of trouble while clean between 2009 and 2018.

Keith Yardy, defending,

said he broke into Woodlands pharmacy because he'd been refused medication by his doctor.

Mr Yardy added: "The doctor was not going to give him the meds he needed, so he took matters into his own hands.

"It was also an attempt to take his own life, he was in hospital for four or five days and he was then charged at the police station.

"Since he's been detained he's got clean. He's 47 and too old to carry on doing this.

"He wants to start again and renew contact with his daughter and mother, he was hungry and homeless and had no money or meds."

Recorder King said: "You have a long list of convictions going back some time.

"These are crimes of dishonesty and have been dealt with in a variety of ways including imprisonment.

"You have a long standing addiction to drugs which is the signature of much of your offending."

Birch was jailed for two years and 24 weeks for the theft and knife offences, but Birch received no separate penalty for the breach offence.

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