Paul Matthews, 38, of Mixenden Court, Mixenden, Halifax, pleaded guilty to taking four credit cards from his girlfriend and making 30 cash withdrawls of hundreds of pounds at a time.

Calderdale magistrates heard Matthews, whose girlfriend attended court in support, took the money to pay off drug debts from a previous cocaine habit.

Waseem Raja, prosecuting, said: "He took four cards from her bags and began using them at various cash points.

"The first his partner heard about it was when she was contacted by the banks who then cancelled the cards.

"The complainant has since been refunded the money but it is the banks who are the losers here."

After the crime was reported, Matthews was questioned by police and confessed to taking the money.

Chris Haddock, for Matt-hews, said: "This debt arose out of a time in his life when he was extremely low.

"He is now drug free but concerns all came to rest at once.

"He and members of his family were threatened and he totally freaked out.

"He feels deeply ashamed of what he has done."

In the dock Matthews broke down in tears as he apologised personally to magistrates.

He said: "I was going through a bad patch and am devastated and gutted by what I did.

"I am very sorry for what I have done and just want it to be over and done with it."

He was given a 300-hour unpaid work order over 12 months, a three-month curfew order and ordered to pay £60 costs.