A fraudster who stole more than £3,000 from a member of staff at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage has been given an eight month suspended prison sentence after breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order.

Adrian Michael Garrick, 44, of Miranda Close, Coventry, was handed the sentence at Warwick Crown Court after he breached the order which had been in force since his release from prison in September 2014.

In 2013 he was given a three-and-a-half year prison term for his part in 31 thefts from members of staff in hospitals across the country over a three year period.

He had entered the Lister Hospital in Stevenage on June 19 2012 and stole a wallet belonging to a member of staff, before calling the victim, asking for his personal bank details and withdrawing £3,800 in cash from his account.

Officers from Hertfordshire’s specialist intelligence unit had been monitoring Garrick’s activities and gathering evidence that he had breached conditions of the order. This resulted in him being charged and pleading guilty to four breaches.

Chief Inspector Dave Wheatley of the force’s serious and organised crime unit, said: “These orders give us powers to keep a close eye on those who have been involved in serious crime over a long period and enables us to monitor their activities, once released from prison to ensure they do not go back to offending.”

“This sentencing sends a clear message that we can and will monitor and enforce SCPOs no matter where offenders live.”

An SCPO is given to people who have been convicted of a serious crime. It places certain restrictions on an individual’s movements, activities and associations - breaching them may lead to further action by police and up to five years imprisonment.