A "PROLIFIC" Hereford offender has been locked up after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of clothes from Hereford's Old Market TK Maxx shop.

Joshua Symonds entered a guilty plea to one count of theft from a shop when he appeared before magistrates in January.

The court heard from prosecutor Charlotte Morgan that Symonds had stolen from Hereford's TK Maxx shop in the city's Old Market development on January 28.

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The 28-year-old, who was represented at the hearing by defence solicitor Mr Bryant, had stolen a haul of five coats worth a total of £398.95 from the shop, magistrates in Kidderminster were told.

Magistrates said the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified as Symonds is a "prolific offender" with many offences of a similar nature on his record, and as he has a history of non-compliance with court orders.

Symonds, who is of no fixed address, was jailed for 22 weeks for the offence, but no order was made for prosecution costs to be paid.