A GAMBLING addict accused of stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods in a year-long shoplifting spree must seek specialist treatment within a week, a High Court judge has ordered.
Aaron Douglas is to take immediate steps to deal with his dependency as part of his bail conditions.
The 25-year-old, of Sandy Row in Belfast, allegedly raided stores selling speciality meats, bicycles and vacuum cleaners.
Police arrested him after he was found hiding under a car, prosecutors said previously.
Douglas is charged with nine counts of theft and a further criminal damage to a jacket on display in one sports shop.
The alleged offences cover a period from May 2016 to May 2017.
It was claimed he stole razor blades from a Tesco on Castlereagh Road, and make-up from Boots on Cregagh Road.
He also allegedly took up to £600 of groceries from a Co-op, and a bike stocked by Halfords.
Prosecution counsel Kate McKay outlined further charges involving speciality meat from an Iceland store, and a designer jacket on sale at Cotswold.
The total value was nearly £3,000.
He was said to have been detained by officers on patrol in east Belfast who spotted him dropping a bag containing a drone allegedly stolen from B&M Bargains.
Conn O'Neill, defending, confirmed Douglas was contesting charges against him. The barrister also stressed his client had a betting problem.
Giving evidence, Douglas's father pledged: "If he gets bail he's going to start Gamblers Anonymous to try to get help for it."
Granting the bail application, Mr Justice Treacy resisted a prosecution request to ban the accused from all retail premises.
