by Ria Nortcliffe

A HOMELESS man was sent to prison for trying to sneak out of a supermarket with cheese and chocolate up his shirt and down his trousers.

Terence Jackson,59, of no fixed abode, was jailed for one week by Macclesfield magistrates after pleading guilty to an offence of theft.

The court heard he stole cheese and a multi-pack of Mars bars worth £7.90.

Chairman of the bench Brian Titford said he had no choice but to send

Jackson, 59, to prison because of his "appalling record" for similar

offences.

The court heard that on Monday, August 17, at about 4pm, Jackson was caught on CCTV trying to leave the Co-op on London Road, in Macclesfield, with the food.

Jonathan McGahan, prosecuting,told the court: "Mr Jackson entered the store, selected the goods and placed one of the items in his coat and the other down his trousers.”

He said security staff stopped Jackson and he was identified on the CCTV footage.

Mr McGahan said although Jackson did not deny the offence, he told

police he could not remember the incident when he was interviewed on

Tuesday, September 8.

In June Jackson was sentenced to four weeks in prison for shoplifting

and a public order offence.

Tim Edgeley, defending, told magistrates Jackson was very forgetful

and could not remember stealing the goods due to early onset of

Alzheimer's disease.

He said: “Both his parents had Alzheimer's and it is believed he has

the early onset of the disease which means he can be very forgetful.

He remembers some things and not others.

"This event was in August and he vaguely recalls having a conversation

with the security guard but not the whole incident.”