A SHOPLIFTER was banned from Savers, a Co-op branch and Esso – after he admitted basket dashes in December and January.

An eagle-eyed police officer caught Jake Morrish red-handed with a basket of goods from the Beechcroft Road Co-op on January 9, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard.

Further checks linked him to the theft of £225-worth of fragrance sets from Savers on December 11 and 13 and the theft of £60-worth of food from the Dorcan Way Esso on December 8.

Prosecutor Emma Charleton said 25-year-old Morrish had 60 offences on his record – including 16 previous offences of theft.

Defending, Luke Jameson said his client had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. However, he was keen to work with probation and addiction services to tackle his problems.

Morrish, of Elborough Road, Moredon, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft. He admitted breaching the terms of his post-sentence supervision by failing to report to the probation office in October, November and December.

District Judge Joanna Dickens said: “You’re 25 and you need to move things on in your life or you’re just going to spend your life going to prison all the time. It’s a complete waste of a young life. It’s just pointless.”

She sentenced him to 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for a year with a six month drug rehabilitation programme. He was banned from Savers in The Parade, the Dorcan Way Esso and Co-op, Beechcroft Road.