A 30 year old Cheltenham shoplifter who committed 18 offences in a £3,000 spree of thefts was jailed for two and a half years.

Ryan Morgan, of Wellington Street, Cheltenham, admitted 15 thefts and asked for a further 3 to be 'taken into consideration' when sentenced at Gloucester crown court.

Prosecutor Emily Heggadon said the first offence was in August last year, but the majority were through November to January this year.

The barrister said on some days he would shoplift from the same store twice, such as on 13th December last year when he stole twice from John Lewis in Cheltenham.

Equally he would steal from two stores on the same day, as on 6th January when he stole from both Tesco and Superdry in Cheltenham, the prosecutor said.

The bulk of his offending took place in and around Cheltenham, High Street, but on 7th and 8th January he stole on consecutive days from TK Maxx in Northgate Street, Gloucester.

"Some items were recovered," Ms Heggadon said, "but the vast majority were not."

The total value of the items stolen was £2,814.37, she said.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC noted: "He certainly has ambition. A £300 hairdryer and a whole vacuum cleaner - Twice! You can't smuggle that under your jumper."

Ms Heggadon said Morgan (pictured right) had a 'relatively substantial list' with 21 previous convictions recorded against him.

Defence lawyer, Matthew Harbinson representing Morgan said during the spate of offending, his client was 'subsisting on a diet of chocolate milkshakes and class A drugs'.

Mr Harbinson said since Morgan's remand in custody: "He feels in a much more positive place.

"He is talking about relocating on release.

He is free from drugs, eating well, and exercising. So much better than that six or seven month period when flat out on drugs.

"He has utilised his time in custody well. He is fit and healthy again."

Judge Lawrie noted this was a 'benefit of confinement'.

"There have been numerous community orders in the past. He clearly failed, failed, failed, so what has changed now?

"He says all of this, only time will tell if he is saying what the court wants to hear.

"He will come out and I am not convinced he will keep out of trouble."

Imposing the jail term the judge said to Morgan: "The primary mitigation is that you have readily accepted your involvement.

"It is of concern that you have a bad history, prompted by a lengthy addiction to drugs.

"The scale and repetitive nature is of concern. A term of custody will be imposed.

"Take up the good work in custody," the judge concluded.

As the sentence was passed Morgan said: "Thirty months? F***ing hell. What a t***pot!"

Morgan was also made subject of a criminal behaviour order banning him from certain shops and parts of Cheltenham.