Jason Crowther, 53, admitted stealing food and beer from the Coop three times in two days.
He got his wish when he was sentenced to six months.
The court was told how he had stolen food valued at £7.40 from the Market Street outlet before taking eight cans of beer worth £14.90 from the Grande Marche, St Martin’s shop, later the same day.
The following day, when he returned to the Market Street shop he was told by staff that he was not welcome.
He paid for food but not for four cans of beer worth £6.99 before leaving the shop with them. He made full admissions to police in interview.
Defending, Advocate David Domaille said his client had no money and he wanted to go to prison as he felt safe there. These offences were committed two weeks and two days after his last release for similar offending.
Counsel said his client had called the police to tell them what he had done and his mental health had been poor at the time.
Judge Marc Davies said various agencies in the community were there to provide the defendant with help but said they would stop if he did not want to take it.
Crowther was jailed for three months, concurrent, for the two offences he committed on the same day. Three months consecutive was meted for the third matter, which took the total sentence to one of six months.