A PERSISTENT shoplifter who for months has targeted stores across York has been jailed for eight months.

Magistrates gave Nicholas Brian Oakland, 26, two chances to keep his liberty by passing community orders in October 2017 and May 2018.

But he continued to steal in June and July and skipped bail twice in August when he was due to attend court to answer for his crimes.

Put before the court in custody, York magistrates told him: "You are a persistent offender with a total disregard for court orders. There is no other sentence than immediate imprisonment."

Oakland, formerly of Fossway, York, and now of Ousegate Lodge, Selby, pleaded guilty to all offences committed in June and July.

The community orders were revoked and he was resentenced at the same time for the earlier offences. In total, he was before the court for 11 thefts, one attempted theft, one offence of handling stolen goods, two failures to attend court and one possession of a Class B drug.

Magistrates gave him two weeks for each offence consecutively, making a total of 32 weeks.

His crimes included: stealing fragrances worth £50.50 from Boots store in Coney Street on July 13, soft drinks worth £2.35 from Londis on Penley Grove Street on June 2, attempted theft from a car parked on Huntington Road on June 17, theft of groceries worth £69 from the Co-op on East Parade, Heworth and theft of a £600 bicycle from East Parade, both on July 1.

He stole cleaning products worth £25 on April 24 from Tesco's Piccadilly store, raided the Co-op store on Clarence Street for meat twice on May 14 taking items worth £43 in total, stole a £47 gift set from Superdrug, Market Street, on May 20, three pairs of jogging bottoms worth £149.97 from Superdry in Davygate on October 21, 2017, food worth £25.37 from Nicholls News, Wains Grove, on October 1, and items worth £32 from Marks and Spencers on Pavement on October 26, and handled a stolen motorbike on October 27.