A prolific thief who stole meat and fish worth more than £300 from several supermarkets has been sent to prison.

Clive Tilley, from Gillingham, repeatedly breached a criminal behaviour order which prevented him from entering any Co-op, Sainsbury’s or Tesco store in Kent for five years.

On November 3, the 41-year-old entered the Sainsbury’s in Gillingham Road where he threatened and racially abused a security guard after he was immediately asked to leave the premises.

He then stole quantities of meat worth more than £200 from the Tesco Express in Sturdee Avenue on three separate occasions, between November 23 and 26. During one of the incidents he assaulted a customer who tried to intervene.

Tilley went on to steal confectionary items and meat and fish valued at more than £120 from the Co-op in Canterbury Street on November 27 and 30.

On Friday he was tracked down and arrested in the High Street and while in custody refused to take a mandatory drug test.

Tilley, of Granville Road, Gillingham, pleaded guilty to five counts of theft, an assault, two public order offences, six breaches of the order and failing to take a drug test when he appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. He was jailed for 10 months.

District Commander for Medway, Chief Inspector Trevor Jenner, said: “This criminal is a prolific thief who has shown a complete disregard for the law by blatantly breaching a criminal behaviour order imposed by a court to prevent him re-offending.

“Our officers work closely with businesses owners and their security teams to ensure those who commit retail crime are swiftly brought to justice.

“Tilley is now quite rightly serving a prison sentence.”