A "one-man crimewave" narrowly avoided jail after receiving a dressing down from a senior magistrate.

Michael Fuller was at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court to learn his fate after admitting stealing £150 of walkie talkies from Maplin while serving a suspended sentence.

The 36-year-old, of Hart Street, Maidstone, has a lengthy criminal record prompting chairman of the bench Dave Mann to tell him: "It’s fair to say you have been a walking crimewave for a long time.

“It’s time for you to get a grip, grow up and step up to the plate. It’s your choice, nobody asks you to break the law. It’s outrageous and you have got to stop.

“People deserve to go about their lives without you going in and lifting stuff. This has got to stop and it stops now. If it doesn’t, bring a bag because you will be going through that door to prison.”

The court heard the roofer had been badly affected by the loss of his father, with Jag Takk, defending, telling magistrates it had made him appreciate how short life is.

Sparing him immediate custody Mr Mann instead imposed a 180-day prison term suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of community service and pay £314.