A prolific 43-year-old shoplifter has been jailed for 32 weeks for his latest theft spree - during which he took £1,000 worth of booze, £600 worth of perfume, and threatening and abusing a Co-op security officer.

David Birch aged 43, of Partridge House, Birdlip pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court yesterday to 14 charges of theft from shops in Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham,

He also admitted failing to comply with a suspended prison sentence order imposed for earlier similar offences.

And he admitted using threatening and abusive behaviour to cause harassment and distress at a Co-op store in Gloucester on August 18th 2019.

He further admitted that on January 13, 2020 he entered the Peel Centre in Gloucester while prohibited from doing so by a criminal behaviour order.

Prosecutor Graham Dono told the court that Birch always aims to steal 'high end value items' he can readily sell, mainly alcohol, and he conceals them on himself before walking out of the shop without paying.

The court was told that he had stolen a variety of spirits from Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Boots, Next and the Co-op in Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Stroud - the total value being in excess of £1,000.

He also stole fragrances to the value of £617 and numerous vacuum cleaners and lamps along with hot food and drinks.

The court heard that most of the thefts were committed in breach of a suspended prison sentence.

Mr Dono went on "On August 18th last year Birch went into the Co-op store in Gloucester and was walking out with items concealed on his person when he was challenged by Sharon Williams a member of store's security staff.

"He became particularly abusive towards her and called her all the names under the sun."

Mr Dono concluded: "Birch is absolutely a prolific offender. His offending goes back a very long time.

"The police are in court today seeking an extension to his criminal behaviour order to last until 2023 prohibiting him to large parts of the city centre."

Miguel Blanco, defending, said: "Birch has a long list of convictions. However, a lot of the offences he is in court for today are quite old.

"There was a gap in his reoffending until he restarted again earlier this year.

"This is because he had been working for a while, but due to a problem with his neck and spine he had to stop.

"When he got married last November he and his wife claimed universal credit, but he has not received anything and as a result resorted to stealing just to live.

"He is not a well man. At one court hearing he was yellow, because his kidneys were failing, and he was sent home.

"Another occasion was when he was coughing up blood in the court's waiting room and an ambulance had to be called.

"He also an operation scheduled on March 6 to help fix the damage to his spine. He's in constant pain.

"While he has been on remand he has been told if he is sent to prison he will not be able to have the operation as the staff believe he would make a getaway. He's no Ronnie Biggs, he is just a shoplifter."

Mr Blanco then pleaded with the justices: "Birch may spend the rest of his life with this injury if he doesn't have the operation soon.

"He has been in custody without his medication, which includes high doses of morphine for his spinal injury. His body is slowly shutting down."

Chairman of bench Sharon Bathurst said to Birch: "We are going to activate the 16 week suspended sentence in full for the original four offences of theft.

"This is because we cannot find any reason why this would be an unjust decision.

"You have shown little compliance with the suspended sentence order because you committed multiple offences during the life of the order.

"For all other matters you are being sentenced to an additional 16 weeks in prison.

"This is because you consistently reoffended and you have an atrocious past record.

"However, we have sympathy over your health issues, but in spite of this you have not tried to modify his behaviour. There was even a further theft on February 15."

The magistrates jailed Birch for a total of 32 weeks and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £140.