Shoplifter fled from cops across the tracks at Sheffield train station

Michael Brailsford was seen stealing £30 of gift sets from Superdrug, on December 9, and he fled from platform 1 to platform 8, prosecutor Matthew Burdon told Sheffield Crown Court, on Thursday.

When he was caught, the gift sets fell to the floor from his coat and he said: "Let me go - it's not a lot of money."

The court heard Brailsford has 44 convictions for 76 offences, mainly of shoplifting, and received an 11 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for threatening behaviour and possession of a blade, in November.

Annette Thomas, mitigating, said Brailsford had been released from custody and was homeless at the time, but was now “effectively drug-free” after a "long-standing history with drugs."

Brailsford, 31, currently of HMP Doncaster, admitted theft and trespassing on a railway line, on December 10.

The court heard he was remanded into custody on December 19, for breaching his bail.

Judge Peter Kelson QC said a £200 fine for the trespass would be covered by the time he has already served, and gave him 28 days for the theft. He extended his suspended sentence to 21 months.

The judge told him: "Walking across the railway lines is an incredibly dangerous thing to do in its own right - never mind how much it would imperil other passengers.

"I think you're running out of chances, Mr Brailsford. You have got to comply with the requirements of that order."