A SHOPLIFTER has been jailed after a spate of thefts from Southampton shops.

Ian Masters has been jailed for 26 weeks for shoplifting from stores in Southampton.

Southampton Magistrates Court heard how the 31-year-old stole items such as alcohol, lamb, chocolate and razors from Waitrose and Sainsburys in Portswood, Tesco Express in Bitterne and Song Oriental Chinese Supermarket.

The thefts happened between February 12 and April this year.

Masters of no fixed address admitted to 11 charges of theft from a shop and one charge of possession of a class B drug namely cannabis yesterday and one charge of burglary other than a dwelling,

Police Sergeant Chris Sharland said: “Masters is a prolific offender and we hope this sentence of imprisonment gives some reassurance to victims that we take these offences seriously and will look at every option to bring offenders to justice”.