'Prolific' Telford shoplifter jailed after string of thefts at town's supermarkets
A prolific shoplifter has been jailed after admitting a series of thefts from shops around Telford.
Matthew Sylvester was sentenced for nine offences when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court on November 15.
The 36-year-old was jailed for 18 weeks for eight theft offences and one case of criminal damage.
Sylvester's thefts were:
September 23 - confectionary worth £100 from Tesco Express
September 26 - confectionary worth £80 from Tesco
September 27 - alcohol worth £100 from Asda
September 27 - meat from Tesco (value unknown)
October 17 - spirits worth £30 from Asda
October 18 - coffee worth £62 from B&M
October 22 - cider and fresh meat worth £76.50 from Tesco Express
October 23 - cookies and cakes worth £10 from Morrisons
Sylvester, of no fixed abode, was given an 18-week jail term for the September 23 theft and four-week imprisonment for the other thefts. All sentences are to run concurrently.
No separate penalty was issued for the case of criminal damage when Sylvester damaged a flagpole belonging to West Mercia Police.
Jailing him, the court noted he had a "flagrant disregard for people and their property", and was guilty of "prolific offending".
