A "persistent and prolific" shoplifter has been jailed after admitting a string of theft offences at shops across Leamington and Warwick over a six-month period.

Dean Allton, of Rugby Road, Leamington, stole items including cosmetics, champagne, power tools, and wireless earphones from supermarkets and specialist homeware shops between January and July of this year.

But he was arrested by officers at his home on Thursday (20 July) after an incident at a supermarket on Emscote Road in Warwick the previous day.

Having been stopped as he tried to leave the store without paying, he used foul and abusive language towards the member of staff - telling him: "I will bang you out."

CCTV footage of the incident led to Allton being identified and brought in for questioning. Several other thefts were put to him and the 47-year-old was subsequently charged with:

• Ten counts of theft from a shop
• One count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress and
• One count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with intent to cause fear of/provoke unlawful violence

Appearing at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Friday (21 July), Allton pleaded guilty to all 12 offences.

He was handed a 36-week jail sentence and was also ordered to pay victim surcharge fee.

PC Kayleigh MacDonald from Warwick Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "Over the past six months, Allton has committed numerous theft offences across both Leamington and Warwick.

"He is a prolific and persistent offender who has shown desperation to offend by making threats to those who challenge him.

"He has caused pain, misery, distress and financial loss to the retail sector in Warwickshire, and I am delighted he is now behind bars.

"I hope that this stretch in jail will give him an opportunity to reconsider his actions and have a positive change in behaviour."