A ‘professional shop-lifter’ has been sent to prison after being caught with hundreds of pounds of goods from across three counties.

Luke Brummitt, formerly of Pembroke Dock now of no fixed abode, appeared from custody at Haverfordwest magistrates on Wednesday, October 10.

He pleaded guilty to stealing £424 of aftershave from Debenhams, Haverfordwest, on August 16; perfume worth £166.60 from Boots, Cardigan, on August 20; £60 of clothing from Tonnau, Cardigan, on August 20; £90 of perfume from Boots, Cardigan on August 21; clothing and electrical goods worth £159.95 from Tesco, Milford Haven on August 24.

Brummitt, 40, also admitted possession of cannabis in Milford Haven on October 9; theft of headphones worth £114.96 from Currys, Haverfordwest, on October 8 and goods of an unknown value from Wilkinsons, Ammanford, on September 1.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “Quite a few of these were high value items. He would not have been able to use all the items stolen, so I presume he would sell them on.

“Looking at his record, he is a professional shop-lifter, that’s what he does."

Mark Layton, defending, said Brummitt had saved police and court time by pleading guilty to all offences.

He added that many of the charges pre-dated his last custodial sentence, and Brummitt had been six weeks without securing benefits when he left prison, which could account for the theft from Currys.

“Clearly he is a prolific shop-lifter.

“Prison just takes him out of the local environment for a while, it does not address the problem.”

Mr Layton added: “He says some of the stealing that he does is for no particular reason, apart from the habit that he has formed. Hopefully he will make a fresh start in 2019.”

Magistrates sent Brummitt to prison for 20 weeks and ordered him to pay compensation to the stores. He will also pay a £115 surcharge and a destruction order was made for his cannabis.

The chairman of the bench said: “The offences are so serious and your record is so serious that only a custodial sentence will do.”