A BLADE offender and thief with a 'formidable record' has been offered a £20,000 rehab place — after committing a further crime.

Shoplifter Christopher Leishman was caught with two utility knife blades and a screwdriver outside Greenock's Tesco after drunkenly stealing £6 worth of jewellery from Primark.

After being placed on a deferred sentence by a sheriff for these matters, Leishman, 34, went to the town's Lidl store and threatened to harm staff there whilst shouting and swearing.

The multiple offender is still being offered an expensive rehab programme in a bid to end his cycle of crime. 

Leishman had entered Primark under the influence at 9.30am on June 14 carrying a large black holdall before making his way to the jewellery station and pocketing a packet of rings worth £2.50, along with another pack valued at £3.50.

He then took four packets of pyjamas worth £12 each from the next floor of the shop before he was removed from the store by an Oak Mall security supervisor.

Police identified him via CCTV footage and traced him on a footpath near the entrance to Tesco in Dalrymple Street.

After he was stopped and searched, two utility knife blades, with the cutting edge on each measuring six centimetres, were recovered from his trouser pocket along with a red-handled screwdriver from his bag.

READ MORE: Thief who took jewellery worth £6 given chance by sheriff despite 'formidable' record

Leishman was charged and told officers: "I didn't even know I had them on me."

His solicitor, Ian Brechany, previously told the court that Leishman has a 'formidable' record and the offences were committed at a time when he was 'in relapse'.

Sentence had been deferred for background reports and to explore the option of a drug treatment placement and Leishman returned to the dock from custody, with the court being told that he had offended again since the last calling of the case.

He committed his threatening behaviour offence at Lidl on September 8.

Sheriff Neil Kinnear said: "It is bad news that he has offended once more but that reinforces the fact that he is stuck in a cycle of offending."

Solicitor Mr Brechany said: "A place has been found for him at a Phoenix Futures rehab programme, £20,000 worth.

"He will be picked up from prison at the end of November or the start of December, and taken to a rehab facility where he will be for 20-plus weeks."

Matters have been adjourned for background reports until October 25.