A prolific Cumbrian shoplifter has been banned from entering dozens of shops in west Cumbria for the next five years.

Magistrates in Workington approved a Criminal Behaviour Order for Karl Schofield, 47. He is now barred from entering shops in Egremont and Whitehaven which participate in the local Shopwatch scheme.

He is the fifth person to be banned in the last two weeks as part of a pre-Christmas crackdown on shop thefts.

Magistrates in Workington imposed the order after the defendant, formerly of Piper's Court, Whitehaven, was given 160 days in jail for ten shop thefts.

He had admitted seven thefts.

The shops he targeted were WH Smiths, Dixons department store, Wilkinsons, Asda and Spar garage in Whitehaven and the Co-op shops in Cleator Moor and Egremont. He was jailed for 120 days.

The court also imposed a further 40 days for three previous thefts which he chose to resentence.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Pamela Fee said: “Karl Schofield is a prolific offender who has been given a five year ban from any shops in the Shopwatch scheme in Egremont and Whitehaven to curb his persistent theft from shops.

“These crimes adversely affect our local communities and local businesses and the CPS is determined to work with the police to tackle offences of dishonesty and theft.

“The courts take such persistent offending seriously and Karl Schofield now begins a four month prison sentence.

“We are increasingly using criminal behaviour orders to prevent the offenders committing further crimes after they have served their sentences.”