A MAN branded as a “professional criminal” by the courts has been jailed for stealing hundreds of pounds worth of items over two weeks.

Corey Robin North, of Romney Road, Andover, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol, meat and perfume worth over £755.75 from Asda, Tesco, Waitrose and The Fragrance Shop over eight occasions between October 21 and November 5.

North was made subject of a community order on October 25 following convictions for previous thefts but continued to steal.

The 22-year-old appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 6 and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £105 compensation.

The court said the sentence was due to the offences being so serious and because of the number and nature of crimes which showed “that the defendant is operating as a professional criminal” and a history of similar offending.

North was not ordered to pay court costs as magistrates deemed compensation was a priority.