A prolific thief who stole hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol from two supermarkets in Braintree town centre has been jailed.

Philip Claydon, 52, will serve 24 weeks behind bars after admitting to six different offences when appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Monday, May 6.

Claydon, who resides in the Braintree district but is of no fixed address, committed the acts of theft between April 4 and April 30 of this year.

The crook stole nearly £100 worth of alcohol from the Tesco store in Market Place, as well as a further £108 worth of brandy vodka from Sainsbury’s in Tofts Walk.

Magistrates ordered Claydon to serve four weeks in jail consecutively for each of the six offences because he was out of prison on licence.

He was also made to pay £172 in compensation to Tesco.

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