Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Leon Cragg was banned from having any contact with his mother under the terms of a restraining order. Mark Williams, mitigating, said it had been a chance meeting in Burnley town centre, and his client had not gone looking for his mum. "He says she initially approached him and told him he needed to stop drinking and sort himself out, which is probably good advice," said Mr Williams. Mr Williams said the shop thefts were indicative of someone with a significant alcohol addiction who was living on the streets. "He was extremely drunk when he confronted his mother," said Mr Williams.