A prolific thief from Stevenage has been jailed after he admitted stealing tools, food and electronics – including a CCTV system.

Hatfield magistrates heard that Benjamin Webb, of Shephall Way, was already serving a community sentence at the time after being convicted in April of stealing video game equipment and ‘damaging Geoffrey the Giant Giraffe and an alarm barrier’ at Stevenage’s Toys R Us.

And District Judge Carolyn Mellanby handed down a 20-week jail term after the 33-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 thefts during September and October.

Webb swiped the £330 CCTV system from Stevenage’s Maplin store on October 17.

During the month-long spree he also stole £338 worth of electrical and other goods from the town’s Asda, a drill each from Stevenage’s B&Q and Aldi stores, and a Dyson vacuum cleaner and Blaupunkt television from the town’s Tesco.

Other items taken included whiskey from the town’s Waitrose and One-Stop outlets, assorted items from Boots and meat from a branch of the Co-op.

Webb also admitted failing to attend two sessions of unpaid community work.

No financial compensation was ordered because of the custodial sentence, but Webb must pay a £115 victim surcharge.