A local man has been jailed after admitting to a series of shoplifting offences over the span of three months earlier this year.

Daniel Leech, 34, of Church Road, Claverdon, appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Saturday, May 6 charged with 17 counts of theft that occurred between 29 January and 4 May.

He was sentenced to a minimum of four months in prison having stolen food, alcohol and fragrances.

Leech was arrested on 4 May in Compriano Drive, Warwick, by officers investigating the theft of more than £70 worth of meat from a supermarket in Emscote Road.

They spotted Leech carrying the meat in one of the shop's baskets and gave chase. Leech dropped the basked and fled before being detained.

During an interview Leech claimed he had found the basked full of meat lying in the street and didn't realise it was stolen.

PC Kayleigh Macdonald of Warwickshire Police said: "Leech is a prolific shoplifter who has scant regard for local businesses and the cost of theft that inevitably gets passed on to other members of the public.

"The impact of shoplifting on businesses can not be underestimated and we recognise the need to tackle this head on by responding to offences and being visible in the community.

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"We worked with local businesses to secure this conviction against Leech. We will continue to do this in order to deter offending and bring offenders to justice."