A thief who stole £16,000 worth of artwork from a Cheltenham gallery as well as speakers worth more than £500 from John Lewis in the town has been sentenced to a six-week home curfew.

Rakan Al Ghanim, 29, of Hill Street, Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court last week to theft of £15,950 worth of artwork from Whitewall Gallery, Cheltenham, on October 2, 2022. He also admitted theft of three speakers valued at £507 from John Lewis, Cheltenham, on October 13.

He was placed on an 18-month community order with six week electronically tagged curfew requiring him to be home each day from 9am to 4pm. He was also ordered to pay £199 costs and surcharge.