Thief was jailed for 18 months after admitting to stealing £861.11 worth of items from two shops

A thief who targeted the same shop in March on three consecutive days has been jailed.

Police say that Kallum Payne ( 24) went to the branch of Superdrug in Broad Street where he was spotted by a member of staff who recognised him as someone who had previously stolen from the shop.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire police said that the staff member challenged him, but he snatched two bottles of aftershave worth £230 and left the shop without paying. The incident happened on May 21.

Payne, of Gaul Road, March, then appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on August 20 in relation to the theft, where he was released on bail until a future hearing.

But say police, 10 days later, on August 30, Payne committed the first of three thefts, on consecutive days, at the same branch of Superdrug.

Police say that on each occasion he strolled in, took skincare products and left without making any effort to pay. The total value of the stolen items was £457.84.

Two days later on 3 September he continued his stealing spree, this time by going to a nearby branch of Boots where he stole items worth £404.27.

Payne was jailed for 18 months, having admitted five counts of theft from a shop at Cambridge Crown Court on November 3.