A prolific shoplifter from Cheltenham has been jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to seven offences within five days.

Alisha Parke, 29, of Grove Street, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court charged with stealing alcohol, clothing and groceries from Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's and Waitrose earlier this month.

Included in her haul was alcohol worth £137 from Marks and Spencer on 11 August; clothing worth £225 from Marks and Spencer on 12 August; meat worth £43 from Sainsbury's on 14 August; alcohol worth £144 from Marks and Spencer and laundry items worth £26.40 from Sainsbury's on 14 August; and clothing worth £243.50 from Marks and Spencer and alcohol worth £54 from Waitrose on 15 August.

She was sentenced to six months in prison for each of the Marks and Spencer offences, two months in prison for each of the Sainsbury's offences and one month in prison for the Waitrose offence to run concurrently, and was ordered to pay nearly £1,750 compensation.

Sgt Simon Ellson said: "This is an excellent result which means that a prolific shoplifter has been removed from the streets of Cheltenham for the foreseeable future.

"Within five days she stole goods worth nearly £1,750 from three local businesses, and would no doubt have continued her spree if it had not been for the good work of our officers who arrested her and ensured that she was brought before the court promptly."

Parke was also found guilty of seven counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).