A PROLIFIC shoplifter who stabbed a man as he tried to make off with stolen goods has been jailed for more than two years.

Chad Smith, 40, was jailed after committing a string of 15 thefts from shop across Hereford, as well as assaulting two police community support officers and failing to answer to bail.

From March to November 2022, Smith, who was previously of the Merton Hotel in Commercial Road, had stolen steaks and fuel from Co-op in Holmer Road, a £450 toothbrush from Boots in High Street and whiskey and clothes from Tesco in Bewell Street, Worcester Crown Court heard.

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He had also targeted TK Maxx, Tesco Express, B&M and other shops across the city.

On March 25, he assaulted Stewart Morgan, causing him actual bodily harm has he stabbed his hand with scissors and bit him as he tried to make off with stolen goods, judge Martin Jackson was told.

Prosecution barrister Aimee Parks told the court that Smith had committed six of the theft offences after being given a chance by the judge to turn his life around.

But the judge said despite that chance, he turned to class A drugs, was caught stealing on six different occasions and assaulted two police community support officers who had spotted him running down Commercial Street with stolen goods.

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Lee Egan, for Smith, said that despite 93 previous convictions, he had had four years with only one conviction for being drunk and disorderly.

But he said Smith, now of HMP Hewell, had an extremely disadvantaged and difficult life from childhood, saying it was “a miserable life, frankly”.

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He said Smith, appearing via video link and wearing a grey tracksuit, was subject to the “life-destroying” control of class A drug addiction and wasn’t giving “two fingers” to the court.

After Smith pleaded guilty to the 15 charges of theft, one of breaching a conditional discharge, one of failing to surrender to bail, one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assault an emergency worker, he was jailed for 30 months.

The judge said only a custodial sentence was appropriate, and said Smith, who sat with his head in his hands after he was jailed, persistently targeted Hereford shops, and often the same ones.