A drug addict was today behind bars after he stole from his mother and aunt.

But Darren Paul Douglas suffered some instant punishment when he stole heavy ornamental stone mushrooms from a stranger’s garden.

Mold Crown Court heard how when police found him he was lying on the floor and there was a strong smell of “Deep Heat” on the premises.

The 29-year-old refused to answer questions, including whether or not he had hurt his back removing the four heavy stone mushrooms.

Douglas, of no fixed abode but who comes from Wrexham , was jailed for two years and 14 weeks after he admitted three theft charges which put him in breach of two earlier suspended prison sentences.

Judge Niclas Parry said they were premeditated, planned thefts.

Those against family members were despicable thefts in breach of trust, he said.

“People may smile at the thought of stone mushrooms being stolen from a garden but they are known to be valuable. They were targeted,” he said.

Douglas had travelled there with another person knowing it would be worthwhile.

Less than a month later he deceived members of his family saying he wanted to use the toilet. They loved him and wanted to help but he stole items of sentimental value which had now been lost to them.

Judge Parry said Douglas  had previous convictions for 75 offences and he had previously served a six year sentence for robbery.

The judge said he accepted by his guilty pleas that he was ashamed and remorseful.

And he said he was pleased with the progress he had been making while on remand in custody.

Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, said that on August 6 this year Douglas and another man stole ornamental stone mushrooms to the value of between £2,300 and £3,200 from a rear garden in Penycae.

Denise Price was woken at about 1.15am by the sound of a car coming up her gravel driveway. She thought it was her daughter coming home so she went back to sleep.

At about 6.15am her neighbours phoned to say they had seen two men getting out of a red Ford Fiesta and they took ornamental stone mushrooms from her back garden.

On checking she realised that four three-feet high ornaments had been stolen – valued at £500-700 each.

A shallow stone trough was also stolen worth £300- £400.

They were all family heir looms with significant sentimental value.

She was able to provide the police with CCTV footage of the men taking the items.

The footage was very clear and officers were able to identify Douglas and another man – Matthew Williams, who had been dealt with at the magistrates’ court.

On August 31, Douglas stole jewellery – three gold chains, gold earrings and two silver watches – from his mother Melanie Douglas.

That evening she heard the front door open and he asked if he could use the toilet.

She said “of course” and he went upstairs.

After ten minutes she wondered what he was doing.

When she got upstairs she saw him coming out of her bedroom and could see a piece of gold chain hanging out of his trouser pocket.

He left and she went back to her bedroom and found items in a jewellery box she had inherited from her late mother were missing.

On September 15 Douglas  went his aunt Patricia Coffin’s home in Colliery Rd, Wrexham. At about 11.15am she heard her nephew outside shouting  he needed to use the toilet so she let him in.

As he came out and walked past her  – she was sitting in her wheelchair – he grabbed her purse from her hand and ran out. The purse contained  £180 in cash and a photo of her parents which was of sentimental value.

Andrew Green, defending, said: “He realises that offences of stealing from your own family are about as low as you can get.

“He is completely ashamed at the offences he has committed.”