A recovering addict this morning admitted stealing a jacket to swap for drugs.

Martin Morris, 43, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft during an appearance in Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the court that on the morning of November 24, an employee at Gibbons Company on Reid Street saw Morris remove a $170 jacket from a rack.

He was then seen to roll up the jacket and walk out of the store, lifting it over a tag detectors at the door to prevent the alarm from being set off.

The staff member chased Morris down Reid Street, but the defendant was able to escape.

Police were later able to identify Morris using CCTV footage from the scene and arrested him at his home on Valley Road, Paget.

Questioned about the theft, Morris admitted being responsible, telling officers that he stole the jacket so he could swap it for drugs.

Appearing in court this morning, Morris said: “I would like to apologise for doing something so stupid. At the time I was homeless and unemployed.”

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered pre-sentencing reports on Morris, releasing him on $1,000 bail. The matter is set to return to the courts for sentencing on March 30.

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