A SHOPLIFTER who was shown CCTV footage of himself stealing meat from a supermarket told police "he didn't recognise himself" before saying he had "problems with his blurred eyes".
Michael Halford was caught on camera stealing packs of food on two occasions from a Sainsbury's store in Derby.
Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court heard how the 39-year-old was also on bail at the time after being handed a suspended sentence for possession of a weapon.
John Cooper, prosecuting, said the thefts took place on December 31 last year and February 23 this year.
Mr Cooper said: "He was arrested and interviewed. He firstly said he had a mental health condition and told officers he could not remember what he did on the days the items were stolen.
"The defendant was shown the CCTV, which clearly identified him, but he told officers he did not recognise himself from the image before telling them he had blurred vision."
The hearing was told how Halford, of Boyer Street, Derby, had 23 previous convictions for 50 offences dating back to the 1990s.
They include affray and possessing a baseball bat in a public place, for which he was handed a suspended sentence in March last year.
Halford pleaded guilty to the thefts and for breaching the terms of his suspended sentence.
Tim Smith, for Halford, said his client had stopped using heroin five to six months ago and was being supported by a charity in Derby.
He said: "His pre-sentence report shows how he has had previous issues with drink and drugs.
"He does suffer from all sorts of issues and clearly does not remember committing these offences."
Magistrates handed him a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for six months, and a three-month curfew, confining him to his home between 7pm and 7am.
He was also ordered to pay £72 compensation, the value of the stolen goods, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
