A THIEF has been jailed for a spate of shoplifting offences in Barrow town centre.

Edward Melton, of St. Lukes Street in Barrow, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from a shop and one single count of possessing Class B Amphetamine when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on May 30.

Court records show the 37-year-old stole a Dyson hair straightener, TRESemme hair styler and a Revlon hairbrush to the value of £464.97 from Curry’s on March 6 this year.

He was caught stealing three lamb joints from Tesco costing approximately £60 and two bottles of wine valued at £19.30 from a Co-Op one day earlier.

Melton also admitted being in possession of a quantity of Amphetamine on March 20, stealing £20 worth of cleaning products from Poundland on Hindpool Road on April 10 and a further £33.75 worth of products on April 28.

Magistrates jailed the defendant for 14 weeks because they said only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified due to the seriousness of the offending.

They also stated that the defendant’s history of committing other offences for dishonesty was a serious aggravating factor.

Melton was ordered to pay back every single penny in compensation to the respective stores.

No orders were made for court costs.