A prolific shoplifter who has more than 85 convictions to his name has been given a chance to kick his drug addiction and sort his life out.

A court heard homeless Kurtis Tipton, who hails from the Folkestone area, had forgotten about a precious sentencing hearing because of his “chaotic lifestyle”.

The 55-year-old, who is hooked on Class A substances, has been shoplifting and committing other offences for years and has previously been jailed.

Tipton, of no fixed address, was hauled before the court on October 20. He had failed to show up for an earlier hearing when he was due to be sentenced over three matters - two counts of possession of Class A and B drugs and one shoplifting offence.

He had admitted the offences in September, when the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be completed. He was due to return on October 10 but failed to appear. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.

Lewis Holloway, defending, told the bench his client had forgotten about the sentencing hearing because of his “chaotic lifestyle”.

As a result, magistrates decided not to pursue the failure to surrender to custody charge and that charge was not put to him while he was in the dock.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said Tipton originally admitted three of the offences in September. She then outlined all the charges.

“On September 8, he went into the Tesco store in Cheriton and filled a trolley with five Yankee candles, which cost £17 each and made no attempt to pay,” Ms Farbrace said.

The court heard Tipton was challenged as he left the store and one candle was recovered, but he managed to leave with the other four, valued at £85.

When he was arrested on September 26, he was found with 4.3 grams of cocaine and 1.6 grams of amphetamine.

The prosecutor added: “He pleaded guilty to the offences on the first opportunity.”

She then told magistrates about the new charge Tipton had committed, which he pleaded guilty to while in the dock.

Ms Farbrace added: “On October 7, he went into the BP petrol station in Cheriton High Street and selected some meat products of an unknown value and put them in a bag and left without making any attempt to pay.

“He was located for the warrant and the new offence on October 18 in Sandgate.

“He has previous convictions, and number 85 was dealt with on August 29 when he got a community order and rehabilitation sessions.”

Tipton was previously jailed in January 2024 after stealing more than £1,000 worth of items from several shops in Folkestone and handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from stores he targeted.

A probation officer confirmed that Tipton was complying with the community order he had been given in August.

Mr Holloway, defending, said: “He would benefit from a drug rehabilitation programme and is already on rehabilitation days with probation.”

The bench decided to place him on another 12-month community order for all four offences.

The order will see him complete a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months. He must pay Tesco £85 compensation for the candles.

They also ordered that the drugs be destroyed.

The chairman of the bench added: “We are pleased you are seeing probation and it’s good stuff they can offer you. Carry on with that and do the rehabilitation days.”