A blind and homeless thief who was released from prison with nowhere to live went out stealing alcohol and food after spending his benefits on hotel costs.

Tony Dawkins, who has issues with drink and several medical problems, has been given another chance to get himself back on track after stealing sprees in Canterbury and Dover.

The 56-year-old went into Tesco and Asda stores in February and earlier this month to steal more than £300 of booze and groceries from shelves.

A court was told he had only been released from prison two weeks before the hearing, having breached an earlier suspended sentence order.

Magistrates heard he did not have anywhere to live when he got out and booked himself into a hotel in the Dover area which was costing him £50 a night.

As a result, a court heard he had no money left to buy food or alcohol so went out stealing it instead.

Dawkins, who said in court he had no fixed abode, admitted four shoplifting offences when he appeared in the dock at Margate Magistrates’ Court on March 11.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “On February 11, he entered the Tesco Extra store in Dover and took food and alcohol worth £67.70 and made no attempt to pay.

“Then on February 12, he went back to the same store and stole various items valued at £48.69 and left without paying and on March 6, he went to the Asda store in Canterbury and stole £123.91 of alcohol without making any attempt to pay.”

Ms Farbrace then said Dawkins’ last offence occurred on March 10, when he was arrested and kept in custody overnight and hauled before the court the next day.

She added: “It was at the Asda store in Canterbury and he was recognised by a member of staff as being in the store again and he was stopped and had four bottles of alcohol and some bread worth £75.62, but those items were recovered.”

The prosecutor also said on February 24 this year, Dawkins had breached a previous suspended sentence for another offence and at the time he was jailed for seven days but had been released recently.

She added Dawkins had other offences of dishonesty on his record and had issues with alcohol.

Lainy Snook, defending, said her client was living in a hotel said: “The shoplifting was for food and alcohol and he was doing it to support himself, not to order. He has no money.

“He was released two weeks ago and had nowhere to live, but the position now is that he could possibly get a roof over his head as he has an appointment with Porchlight [a charity for homeless and vulnerable people].

“He’s registered blind and not fit for work, he takes medication for seizures and is on a number of meds and he misuses alcohol.

“A community order with requirements would be a suitable disposal of this case and he’s engaging with services to get back on the right track.”

The bench also heard from a probation officer who said Dawkins had previously been given community and suspended sentence orders, without much success.

The officer added: “If you feel there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation you could give him a community order.

“He does have an appointment with Porchlight and he’s on about £1,000 a month as he gets Universal Credit and PIP.

“He’s had alcohol treatment requirements in the past, but they have all been breached.

“He told me he’s still drinking as he’s homeless and he likes it and he’s also got back problems and he’s on morphine for that.”

Magistrates decided there was a prospect of rehabilitating Dawkins and placed him on a 12-month community order which will see him complete 20 rehabilitation sessions.

The chairman of the bench said: “Get some help with your accommodation, but you will be straight back in court if you offend [again].

Dawkins was also ordered to pay compensation to Asda and Tesco for the goods he stole and will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £20 because he received benefits.