A thief who breached a restraining order to steal a debit card and use it fraudulently has been jailed for more than half a year.

Paul Bliss, of no fixed address, entered a certain house in Ickleford as a trespasser on June 2 – ignoring a restraining order forbidding him to go there.

The 42-year-old stole a debit card and address book, and later that day used the card to gain £500 cash and items worth £29.

The next day, he used the card in Arlesey to get £400 cash.

Bliss pleaded guilty to theft, breaching a restraining order and two counts of fraud when he appeared before Stevenage magistrates last week.

Chairman of the bench Kathryn Greenwood jailed him for 36 weeks, citing his previous convictions and unsuitability for a community sentence.

Bliss must also pay £250 in compensation by February 28 next year.