A PROLIFIC shoplifter has been given a nine month community order for his latest series of offences in Stonehouse, Quedgeley and Hardwicke.

Nathan King, 42, of Elm Grove Road West, Hardwicke, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on December 30 to four offences of theft between June and September.

The court heard that the first theft was on June 7 from Warner’s Budgen store in the Bristol Road, Quedgeley.

He stole steaks and cheese blocks from the store's cold counter and concealed them under his coat before walking out of the shop.

King also admitted stealing £90 worth of goods on August 26 from the Midcounties Co-op in Stonehouse where he put the items down his trousers.

On September 1 King also admitted secreted blocks of cheese down his trousers on two occasion on the same day from Warner’s Budgen store in Hardwicke.

He also admitted a theft of chocolates from One Stop Shop in Quedgeley on October 13.

When he was arrested King told the police he needed the money from reselling the goods to fund his drug habit.

The court was told King was a prolific shoplifter with 119 previous convictions.

The magistrates sentenced him to a nine month community order to focus on his drug rehabilitation and fined him £12.40 and ordered him to pay £237.60 compensation to the Warner’s Budgen store and the Midcounties Co-op.