A man with up to 30 convictions for drug-related offences appeared in court last week charged with stealing a shop worker's purse just after Christmas.

Father-of-two Dennis Warner stole the wallet containing $40 and a cheque book from a worker at an Arnold's Supermarket in Devonshire on December 28.

The 46-year-old, who has a history of drug abuse, told the court he had stolen the money to pay for toys and food for his children for New Year.

The self-employed painter, from Devonshire, said he was sorry for what he had done and wished now to repay the woman her cash.

But Senior Magistrate Archie Warner said he believed Warner had taken the cash to buy drugs -- although he acknowledged that he had never been convicted of stealing before.

The magistrate said: "You cannot just steal someone's wallet and then say `I'm sorry -- I want to pay back the money'.

"You have a serious drug problem going back to the 1980s.

"You stole this money to buy drugs. You were in a supermarket. They even sell toys there. You did not steal a toy or a ham or a turkey to help out your family. That would not be right either, but it would be consistent with your story.

"You are not going to pull the wool over my eyes. You have 20 to 30 convictions for drug-related offences.'' The defendant said he was going through a "rough time'' at Christmas.

He said: "I had to buy things for my children. I had a little pressure on me at the time.'' Mr. Warner gave him a three-month suspended sentence for a year, but ordered that he pay a previous fine of $1,300, relating to drug offences, dating back to August 1998. He said the fine must be paid by March 30.