A HOMELESS shoplifter who committed a spate of thefs - including four in a matter of hours in Workington - has been jailed.

When he appeared before Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court, Antony Weir, 31, entered guilty pleas to six counts of theft. The court heard that he stole a mixture of low and high value goods.

The first two offences he admitted were:

  • On October 6, he stole alcohol worth £169 from Asda in Workington.
  • On October 12, he stole food worth £6.30 from Greggs, also in Workington.

By October 15, the defendant began to target stores in Derwent Drive, Workington, committing the following offences:

  • From Dunelm Stores, to took a cutlery set, candle and bin bags worth £16.30.
  • From Currys, he stole electrical goods worth £72.
  • From Morrisons, he took whiskey worth £53 from Morrisons.
  • And then he returned to Dunelm Stores, stealing bedding worth £350.

After hearing the details, magistrates said the combination of repeated offending was so serious that only immediate custody was appropriate. They jailed Weir for 17 weeks.

In the court record, magistrates state: “We might have considered community requirements but you have failed to comply with your community order and therefore there is no alternative today.”

They ordered that when released Weir must pay compensation of £240 for goods which were not recovered, though the record does not state what these were. Weir's guilty pleas were taken into account.