Josh Bowler, aged 21, of Lydia Gardens, admitted committing eight shop thefts between October 2023 and last February, and a further ten, between May and July, taking £3,335 of goods in total, said prosecutor Pree Brada.
Among them Bowler stole 13 bottles of spirits, worth £400, on January 18, and 18 bottles of vodka, worth £450, on January 30, from Asda in Heanor.
The second set of thefts put him in breach of a nine month prison sentence which was suspended for two years, she said.
Bowler didn't turn up for a probation report because of his 'chaotic lifestyle' and he was remanded into custody on July 23, the court heard.
Ms Brada said: "He is a prolific offender with quite an extensive record of similar offences.
"His offending doesn't seem to be escalating and is instead slowing down.”
Nottingham Crown Court heard Bowler has 14 previous convictions for 43 offences.
Devni Kitulagoda, mitigating, said: “This has been his first time in prison.
"He is still a young person, the offences were committed on the basis of necessity.
"In his own words, 'it was either starve or steal'.
"They are unsophisticated shop thefts - he simply walks in, removes tags and leaves without paying.
“At the time he had no money and was trying to survive.
"He didn't do it to support a drug habit, he sometimes sells the items to pay for his essential necessities.”
Ms Kitulagoda added that because Bowler has no ID, or even a National Insurance number, and was unable to apply for a job or claim benefits, 'stealing was his only means of improving his financial situation', .
She said: “He massively regrets his offending.
"Since he has been on remand his attitude has changed and he is taking qualifications.
"Prison has been a salutary experience.”
On Thursday, September 12, Recorder Samuel Skinner noted Bowler’s 'tragic history', but added: “Nothing in you background or lifestyle has changed since you were sentenced in October 2023.
“The reality is, having been given a chance in January, you didn't take that chance.”
He activated eight months of the suspended sentence and added two months, to run consecutively, for the new offences.