SERIAL thief jailed over south Essex shoplifting spree

JAILED: Damien Barnes

A SERIAL thief has been jailed for eight weeks after admitting a string of shoplifting offences across south Essex.

Damien Barnes, 33, from Eden Green, South Ockendon, stole five lamb joints worth £38 from Lidl in South Ockendon on August 15.

In October he stole various items from Co-op and Savers stores in South Ockendon worth a total of £80.

This month he stole goods worth £33, including steaks, from the Co-op in South Ockendon, and three bottles of Baileys alcoholic drink from a Tesco in Basildon.

Barnes also admitted failing to to up to an earlier court hearing on October 1.

At Basildon Magistrates Court he was jailed eight weeks for each offence, to run concurrently, and was ordered to pay compensation totalling £112 to some of the stores.

Barnes made national headlines last year when Essex Police issued CCTV of him during and appeal for the whereabouts of him, partner Cheryl Wilkins, 32, and her two children.