PROLIFIC criminal Alexander Bingham has been jailed after thieving alcohol from a petrol station and trying to steal a camper van.

The 25-year-old, who has 49 convictions for 131 previous offences, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to theft, burglary and attempted theft of the van.

Bingham stole two cases of lager from the Co-Operative Food filling station in Burford Road, Cirencester at 2.50am on November 4.

He was then seen staggering towards a Volkswagen camper van in Burge Court and unsuccessfully trying to get into the locked vehicle.

Bingham then broke into a nearby garden shed and stole a garden tool, which he used to smash the driver's side window of the camper van.

Prosecutor Dafyyd Paxton told the court that Bingham did not steal anything from the camper van or drive it away.

A statement from the owner of the camper van, a nurse, was read out by Mr Paxton in court and described her fury over the damage caused and being out of pocket as she has to claim on her motor insurance.

Gemma Walsh, defending Bingham, said his offences were unsophisticated and that he was remorseful and want to change for the better.

She recommend that Bingham, of Marlborough Road in Gloucester, was given a suspended sentence to give him a change to prove he had changed his criminal ways.

She said: “We see if he can do it. We see if he doesn't commit any further offences ”

But magistrate Natalie Hunt disagreed with Miss Walsh and sentenced Bingham to 18 weeks in prison and fined him £230 on Monday.

The magistrate said that Bingham’s previous offences and the fact that the camper van belonged to a nurse meant he deserved to serve time in prison.

She said: “We are very concerned about the information from the victim's statement. It was a nurses camper van – a public official.”

As Bingham was being led away he confronted Jason Daniels, who was sitting at the back of court waiting for his case to be heard next.

Bingham aggressively asked why Daniels, 43, was in the court room and demanded to know his identity.

He said: “What are you staring at? What is your name? Why are you even in here?”

Mr Daniels then explained to Bingham that he was in court because his case was being heard next.

Daniels, of Querns Road, Cirencester, is accused of conspiring to supply cocaine, possession of cannabis and driving whilst disqualified.