A one-man crime wave who went on a stealing spree across the county earlier this year has avoided jail again, despite carrying out more shoplifting offences.

Billy Austin, who was once also jailed for four years for robbing two people of their bank cards, appeared before Medway magistrates last week after stealing from shops again.

The 31-year-old narrowly avoided jail in August when he appeared at the same court and admitted almost 30 offences, including two counts of forging registration plates, one of going equipped for theft, 15 counts of making off without paying for fuel, and nine counts of shoplifting.

At the time magistrates heard that between October last year and February this year he stole £1,872.60 of goods and fuel from across Sittingbourne, Sheppey, and Medway.

He even altered his number plate with sticky tape in a bid to avoid detection when he left numerous service stations without paying.

But magistrates decided not to jail Austin of Cavell Way, Sittingbourne, and instead, he was placed on a 24-month community order which will see him carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, attend 25 rehabilitation sessions, and complete a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) for nine months.

He was also ordered to attend a thinking skills programme for 19 days and pay compensation for the entire amount he stole to all the shops and petrol stations. During the hearing, Siobhan Draper, chairman of the bench, told him: “You are very lucky to have the support of your father, who is in court today.

“Repay that by staying out of trouble like you have in the past few months.”

However, on October 20, Austin was back at the same court after being charged with another five counts of shoplifting which he admitted.

The bench were told he stole from the Morrisons Daily store in Sittingbourne five times between May 28, and June 15.

He stole tins of coffee, body sprays, shower gels and washing products worth £143.55, on May 28, then returned twice on May 29, and took chocolate, meat and cheese of an unknown value.

Austin returned to the store on June 6 and stole tuna, cheese and chicken worth £31.50 and on June 15 took toiletries, valued at £109.24.

Dylan Bradshaw, prosecuting, said: “It was the same shop and he visited twice in one day and put the goods in a bag for life, on one occasion the goods were recovered.

“He has a very unattractive record and is currently on an order and was in court in August for making off without payment and was given a community order and is on a DRR. These offences are indicative of his drug problem.”

However, magistrates also heard the new shoplifting offences predated his last conviction in August and that he had been cooperating with probation since then. The court was told he is now on an injection blocker to help him with his addiction to class A drugs.

The court heard that the father-of-two said he was “sick of his life” and knew he couldn’t carry on the way he was and that he wanted to be a better father to his children.

As a result, magistrates decided to place Austin on a two year conditional discharge and leave him to carry on the good work he was doing on his community order.

However they did order he pay the Morrisons Daily store £284.29 in compensation.