Richard Sleet was on a street in Fleetwood when he punched his sister in the back, squeezed her face and headbutted her, Preston Crown Court was told.

Watching the incident were his sister's child and two other children
Sleet, 25, of Mount Street, admitted theft and common assault.

His sister was at home in Hazeldene Road, Fleetwood, on the night of May 8 when Sleet called.

Alex Simmonds, prosecuting, said she put her purse down the side of her chair before going upstairs for painkillers he had asked for.

She came down to see him putting something down his trousers. He returned later saying he had found her bank cards in a bush across the road.

Sleet's victim went on to report the theft and Sleet was arrested and later bailed by Fleetwood magistrates.

That same morning, his sister was in Fleetwood town centre looking in a window.

Miss Simmonds told the court: "She felt someone punch her on the shoulder blade. She turned and saw the defendant.

"He grabbed her face with his left hand and squeezed her cheek.
"He leaned his head into her and asked her what she thought she was doing.

"He was shouting at her, saying he had been in a cell all night.
"He then headbutted his sister on the nose."

Sleet had 66 previous convictions.

Rachel Woods, defending, said Sleet had a drug addiction.
If he did not deal with it, he would end up in prison for an extremely long time, or wind up dead from overdosing.

Miss Woods added: "Further prison holds no real fear for him.
"He has served longer terms in the past. He has already done prison while waiting to be dealt with in this case."

She added: "He was desperately withdrawing from drugs when the theft arose.

"Perhaps the public might be better served in the long term by him being given a chance to prove that he is genuine in his motivation to change."