A THIEF has been sent to prison for stealing from a shop and breaching his suspended sentence.

Prolific thief David Commons has been sent behind bars for ten months for two counts of theft from the Boot store in Basildon Town Square.

On January 10 this year, security guards at the store spotted the 32-year-old stealing a gift set and then returning a while later to try and steal another one.

Commons was stopped by security and arrested on the day.

As he was searched by police, he was found to have a small amount of cannabis on him.

Commons had previously been given a nine-month suspended prison sentence in August last year for other thefts in south Essex.

His offending last month was less than five months since this sentence, meaning he was breaching his conditions.

He appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday where he admitted the breach, theft, possession of cannabis and handling stolen goods.

The court heard that Commons has previously had ten court appearances for 25 offences.

Mitigation for Commons said that he had struggled to fit in at his new address, and had slipped back into his old ways after meeting old colleagues that he would commit crimes with.

Commons, of Grouch Avenue, Hullbridge, remained emotionless throughout the hearing.

Sentencing him, Recorder Tim Clark QC said: “You have a very poor criminal record of ten court appearances for 25 offences.

“You have multiple previous convictions from that and there are frequent breeches of orders.

“You were given a suspended sentence in August for nine months. Shops need protection from regular shoplifters like yourself.

“You have been given an opportunity to help you by the courts and you have continued to re-offend.”

Commons received eight months in jail for the theft and two months for breaching his order, totalling ten months behind bars.

He received a six-month concurrent sentence for handling the stolen gift sets from Boots.

Anyone concerned about shoplifting can call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.