A serial thief has admitted shoplifting more than £1,200 worth of items ranging from baby milk to lamb joints from high street retailers over a six-month period.

Faye O'Brien targeted Swindon's Iceland, Poundland, Wilkos and Savers on a shoplifting spree which started back in August last year when she stole nine tubs of baby milk worth £89.77 from Savers and a case of energy drinks to the value of £36 from Poundland.

The 31-year-old then nabbed nine boxes of Surf tablets valued at £63 and £30 worth of Pedigree dog food from Wilkos in September.

O'Brien also pleaded guilty to two counts of theft in October. She took four calgon gels,  eight tube sweets, three dairy milk slabs, three BO candy cane lights and penguin lights from Wilkos totting up to £134.

And three days earlier she also stole three Christmas lanterns, two Christmas lights and two Christmas domes from the same store worth £200. 

The next month O'Brien shoplifted even more Christmas items from Wilkos adding up to £416; this included three boxes of Christmas lights, one light-up reindeer, and various gift sets.

And in February this year, she took meat joints valuing £239.50 from Iceland.

O'Brien, of Groundwell Road, pleaded guilty to the theft offences at Swindon Magistrates' Court and must pay £872. 

She also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and complete a maximum of 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.