DRUG addicts planning shoplifting expeditions have been told to stay away from York - or else.

The city's most senior judge made the warning as he sentenced a shoplifter who knocked over an 87-year-old woman in the city centre.

Handing out a 32-month sentence, the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, told Billy Anthony Jamieson: "You are about to find out York is a very bad place to try and fund crack cocaine.

"Bad things happen to thieves who travel to York to commit crime. I suggest in future you stay out of York."

Jamieson, 21, of Commercial Road, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, gasped at the sentence. He had pleaded guilty to theft.

Anthony Moore, prosecuting, told York Crown Court, Jamieson had travelled with two accomplices from Newcastle to York by train especially to shoplift in the Yorkshire capital.

But street rangers spotted them as they ran out of TK Maxx in Coney Street with £1,139 of handbags in their hands.

All three ran into the pensioner and knocked her over.

"She wasn't trying to restrain the shoplifters, she was making her way to the bus stop," said Mr Moore.

The judge said her misfortune made the shoplifting more serious. He said the trio had spent six minutes in the store eyeing up handbags, before grabbing the ones they wanted and running out.

Keith Whitehouse for Jamieson said he stole because he needed money to fund his crack cocaine habit.

"He is extremely remorseful for what happened to the lady," said the solicitor advocate.

The judge told Jamieson: "You have the dubious distinction of having the longest criminal record I have ever seen for a 21-year-old.".

He heard that the thief had committed more than 50 crimes, most of them involving theft or dishonesty. Jamieson was on prison licence when he came to York because he had been released from an 18-month prison sentence on August 14.

He also breached a conditional discharge imposed for theft on October 3, less than a month before he travelled to York on October 28.