A homeless man who gave a false name to the police when arrested for shoplifting a tent to live in has been jailed.
Christopher Knight (23) admitted perverting the course of justice, by assuming another person's identity.
He also admitted theft of a £22.50 tent from Tesco, Ashby, on July 5.
Knight, who was later provided with hostel accommodation in Derby, was jailed for a total of eight months.
Sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "A store detective saw you acting suspiciously and picking up the tent.
"When confronted outside the store you gave the name of someone you knew.
"The police arrived and you persisted with the false details, including date of birth.
"You proceeded to lie about your identity when you admitted the shoplifting in interview and you were given a fixed-penalty notice."
However, his ruse was rumbled when another police officer realised the defendant was not the person he claimed to be, said Alexander Davies, prosecuting.
Judge Mooncey said: "Fortunately, the person you were masquerading as wasn't arrested.
"Perverting the course of justice strikes at the heart of the justice system and that why custodial sentences have to follow."
The court heard Knight has 28 offences on his record, including several for shoplifting.
Andrew Molloy, mitigating, said: "The tent was immediately recovered and returned.
"He gave a false name in panic and then persisted with it.
"He's very sorry for what he's done. He needs to learn a lesson and stop committing these type of offences."
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