A prolific thief who threatened to bite the finger off a shopworker is banned from several stores for three years.

Jesse Barton, who stole products such as cat food and confectionary, is outrightly banned from some stores in Ashford. He has to leave instantly if staff tell him in others.

Meat, alcohol, laundry products, cat food and confectionary were some of the items stolen from supermarkets in Brookfield Road and Singleton between August 20 and last Tuesday, August 27.

Realising stock had been stolen, staff at the businesses reviewed their CCTV and reported the thefts to Kent Police.

Barton, who usually hid the stolen goods in his coat or bags, was identified by officers as the wanted offender.

At one store, he was stopped by staff as he tried to leave with 10 boxes of cat food.

Some of the boxes were left damaged and unable to be re-sold. When challenged by staff, Barton made a threat to bite the finger off one employee.

Officers on patrol arrested Barton after they found him with £169 worth of confectionary and biscuits last Tuesday. The items had been stolen from a nearby supermarket and police were able to return the items to the store.

An investigation identified Barton as responsible for eight thefts that week, the assault of a member of staff and an attempted theft.

Barton, 36, of no fixed address, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court yesterday, (Thursday) when he was jailed for six months and 28 days.

Officers also successfully applied for Barton to be subject to a three-year criminal behaviour order, which bans him from remaining in any retail premises when asked to leave by staff.

He is also specifically prohibited from entering ten supermarkets across the district, as well as the Ashford Designer Outlet.

Sgt Daniel Bartlett said: ‘Kent Police takes all reports of retail crime seriously, and thefts like the offences carried out by Jesse Barton can cause businesses to put up their prices to compensate for losses and leave a community worse off.

“‘Barton is a prolific and relentless shoplifter who caused misery to those working in the shops and supermarkets he targeted.

“I am pleased the courts recognised the severity of Barton’s threatening behaviour against shop staff, and agreed that a Criminal Behaviour Order was necessary.

“When he has served his custodial sentence, he will have to adhere to the conditions of this order. If ignored, it could result in his return to prison.”