A PROLIFIC thief who targeted shops in Braintree town centre has been jailed for more than six months.

Philip Claydon, 51, admitted to a string of offences which took place between September 2018 and January 2019 when appearing at Colchester Magistrates Court last month.

Claydon, of no fixed address, admitted to stealing alcohol and toiletry items worth £49.20 from the Tesco store in Market Place on September 10 last year.

The crook also confessed to stealing Vodka from Sainsburys worth £39, a Dolce Gusto coffee machine costing £39.99 from B&M, a £180 mobile phone and bike valued at £1,000 during his spree.

During sentencing, magistrates ordered Clayden to serve a total of 28 weeks in prison for his offences, as well as for breaching a 12-month conditional discharge order out in place in March last year.

He was also ordered to pay £508.99 in compensation.