A crack-cocaine addict has appeared in court again after being charged with a string of shoplifting offences – just weeks after admitting several others.

Hapless thief Phillip Yelding wept uncontrollably in the dock as he was brought from the cells after being charged with another six shoplifting crimes.

The dad-of-two previously featured on KentOnline after failing to turn up to a court appearance because he had gone on holiday 11 miles away.

The Sittingbourne resident had asked Medway Magistrates’ Court for an adjournment in July so he could enjoy his stay at Allhallows Holiday Park on the Isle of Grain.

However, his request was denied as it was felt he could easily travel to the court in Chatham from there.

After he didn’t show up,he was picked-up and hauled before the court on July 31, when magistrates heard he had stolen meat from supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Iceland in Sittingbourne and elsewhere.

On each occasion, Yelding of Cavell Way, was spotted taking the items and the goods were recovered. The bench heard he was serving a community order for driving offences when he committed the thefts in March.

At the time, the 32-year-old was placed on a 12-month community order and told to complete 25 rehabilitation days, a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and pay compensation to each business for the value of the items he took.

However, just weeks later in September, he appeared again at the same court after carrying out two more offences in June when the court heard he walked into Wilko in Sittingbourne and took four cans of eggshell paint, valued at £46.

Just a few days later, he went to Sainsbury’s, taking Captain Morgan’s rum and Smirnoff vodka, valued at £39, and at the time magistrates heard Yelding – who admitted the crimes – had not attended all of his probation appointments he had been ordered to attend in July.

But they heard he had gone to some but had yet to start his drug rehabilitation treatment because he had not been offered an appointment, and he had been clean for at least four weeks, but would still like more help.

In September, magistrates decided to keep him on the 12-month community order and pay compensation to both shops he had stolen from.

However, on Monday, October 16, Yelding was back again after being picked up by police over the weekend and charged with six new shoplifting offences.

Prosecutor Sidumiso Moyo told District Judge William Nelson his client went to the Welcome store [Co-op] in Milton Regis on August 25 and stole coffee, Kinder bars and chicken, worth £45.

Then on August 28, he visited the Morrisons in Sittingbourne and took a tin of Roses chocolates, coffee and other items worth £30. Two days later he stole from the Shell garage in the town when he swiped £50.79 worth of confectionery.

The judge was also told he went back to Morrisons on September 23 and took £100 of chocolate before returning on October 3 and stealing £56.65 of chocolate. Then on October 11, he popped back to grab more treats worth £20.40.

Manjit Tesse, defending, told the court Yelding’s father had been an addict and because of that he had vowed not to go down that road.

But he thinks there must be an addictive gene in his family as when he becomes overwhelmed with some situations he turns to Class A drugs to cope.

Mr Tesse also said one of Yelding’s children had been diagnosed with a genetic medical condition and he had struggled to cope with that news.

Mr Tesse added: “It’s no excuse and he made admissions in interview. He’s got emotional difficulties and has a reliance on drugs at the moment.”

Judge Nelson spared Yelding jail as he said any short-term sentence he could give would only result in respite to his offending.

He also decided against it after hearing there had been problems with Yelding starting his drug rehabilitation programme, through no fault of his own.

However, he decided to revoke the community order he was on and gave him a new one to try and help him beat his addictions, which he said he would personally be monitoring.

He placed him on another 12-month community order which will see Yelding complete 25 rehabilitation days and a six-month drug rehabilitation programme.

But he told him if he failed to comply with the order, he would jail him.

Judge Nelson said: “You are not a stupid man, you have to battle your way out [of your addiction].

“I will be monitoring you and I’ll send you to prison if you breach. This is it, you have to stop, if not for you, then for your partner.”