A prolific thief has been locked up for Christmas and banned from a number of big-name stores for three years after another shoplifting spree.

Nathan Aldous, 35, has a long history of offences and admitted two more thefts when he appeared before magistrates in Medway earlier this month.

The court heard Aldous, of May Road, Rochester, stole £48 worth of goods from Asda in Strood on October 16.

Then on October 25, Aldous returned to Strood but this time went into Iceland in the High Street and stole meat and washing products valued at £53.

While in the dock he also admitted failing to surrender when he failed to appear in court on November 23.

When he appeared in court on Friday, December 2, Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, told magistrates Aldous had a long history of shoplifting offences.

The bench heard he had previously been jailed for theft and had also been given community orders, suspended sentences and conditional discharges, but had continued to commit the same sort of offences.

At this point, Aldous shouted from the dock: "There is a cost-of-living crisis – I am feeding my family here."

Mr Sweeney continued: "On October 16 at about 1.30pm, he took items from the shelves including six Lynxs, three toothpastes and detergent and concealed it in his coat.

"When he was arrested over the matter, he made no comment in interview.

"Then on October 25 at about noon, he went into Iceland and stole three steaks and some Persil and left without making any attempt to pay.

"He was identified via CCTV images and when he was arrested on December 1 during interview he told officers he had a drug habit to fund."

"There is a cost of living crisis, I am feeding my family here..."

The court also heard from a probation officer who explained to the court Aldous had previously been given a community order and was in breach of it. He had also failed to attend all but one drug rehabilitation sessions he'd been ordered to complete.

Dotun Ogunfola, defending, told magistrates his client had tried to stay out of trouble but things were tough at the moment.

Magistrates decided to activate part of the suspended sentence Aldous was still subject to and jailed him for 60 days for committing the offences while on the order, and further jailed him for 120 days for the two shoplifting offences. In total, he will serve a 180-day sentence.

They also revoked the community order he was on.

Magistrates also heard police wanted to apply to the court for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to prevent Aldous entering certain shops, to try to stop his offending.

The bench agreed to the CBO which will see Aldous banned from any shop owned by Asda, Wilko, Tesco and B&M for three years.

Aldous was also ordered to pay £43 compensation to Asda and £53 to Iceland.