by Robert Ashton

A pensioner caught with more than 900 items stolen from shops has been ordered to pay back £34,000 - or be jailed.

Serial shoplifter May Jones, of Malling Road, Snodland, was arrested after police raided her home and uncovered her stash.

They found a mountain of stuff swiped from high street stores around Snodland including jewellery, shoes, toys, stolen clothing.

Now the 64-year-old has been ordered to pay back her ill-gotten gains within six months or be jailed for 12 months.

Jones was convicted of the possessing stolen goods in May last year and handed a 23-week suspended sentence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Jones had also been convicted of two minor shoplifting offences in Aylesford and Gillingham in 2007.

It sparked an investigation by Kent Police's Serious Economic Crime Unit (SECU) into her finances and a confiscation order was granted on June 25.

Detective Inspector Mark Fairhurst from SECU said: "Jones was a prolific shoplifter who caused the shops she stole from to suffer large financial losses which were unacceptable.

"Kent Police will work to ensure that those making a living from crime will be forced to pay back money obtained through illegal means."