Christchurch, April 1 NZPA - Convicted shoplifter and art thief Peter Lindsay James Whitworth today vowed to "go cold turkey on crime".

His promise at his sentencing in Christchurch District Court brought him reduced jail time.

But Judge Brian Callaghan said: "I have to be somewhat sceptical about whether you can stay on the straight and narrow.

"The community needs to know that recidivist shoplifters will eventually be dealt with more harshly than community-based sentences."

He jailed 55-year-old Whitworth for eight months but said it was shorter than the jail term he had originally contemplated because of what Whitworth told the court.

He also ordered him to pay $1290 for property that was not recovered.

Whitworth was appearing for sentencing after admitting seven shoplifting charges, being found unlawfully in a yard, trespass at a shop, breach of bail, and only doing two hours of his 75-hour community work sentence.

He had 40 previous convictions for thefts, including stealing valuable paintings from Christchurch galleries, and a Mongolian helmet worth $250,000 from a display case at the Canterbury Museum in February 2000.

His latest thefts included stealing expensive perfumes and glass statues.

Whitworth said he believed a brain injury at the age of six had damaged a frontal lobe, left him pre-disposed to a life of crime, and gave him a speech impediment.

He alleged he became anti-social when he was handcuffed and beaten when arrested aged 22.

"People taught me to steal," he said, acknowledging that his record was appalling. "I am going to go cold turkey on crime. I'm sorry, that's all I can say."

Whitworth thanked the judge when he got his eight-month sentence.

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