They said Kevin Davies's repeated court appearances were like a 'revolving door'.

Kevin Davies, who admitted stealing washing powder and deodorants on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, was told by the court: "You're 36 now. It's time you sorted your life out. Only you can do it.

"You should have more sense."

Davies, of West View Road, Hartlepool, admitted stealing £30.40 of washing powder from McColls store in Murray Street, Hartlepool, on Tuesday and two tins of deodorant worth £5 from the Tesco store in Wiltshire Way the following day.

Philip Morley, prosecuting at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court, said Davies has 68 convictions on his record, including shop thefts.

John Relton, mitigating, said the items were of low value, but admitted that the court "couldn't be accused of not giving Kevin Davies numerous opportunities".

He said despite the court placing Davies on a drugs rehabilitation order last year, Davies had continued to offend.

However, Mr Relton urged magistrates to help him find help in the community, in the hope that "the gaps between offending and sentencing widen and ultimately there is no offending".

He added: "There comes a point in most people's life when you draw a line."

A spokesman for the probation service told the court that Davies had first come to the service's attention in 2005 and he had failed drugs rehabilitation orders in 2005 and 2007.

He said: "It doesn't show much commitment on Mr Davies' part.

"It's hard coming off drugs but I would have thought there would have been some change since 2005 and 2008."

Eric Wheelwright, chairman of the magistrates' bench, adjourned the case until Tuesday so that Davies can attend an appointment with the Addaction drug service the previous day.

He told Davies: "We could have sent you to jail.

"We are going to test your commitment. You can't keep coming to court. It's like a revolving door."