A prolific shoplifter who tried to gouge out the eyes of a police officer has been jailed.

Jordan Best attacked police when they came to arrest him on April 22 after a string of supermarket thefts in Ramsgate, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Canterbury and Margate.

Between March and April, Best stole hundreds of pounds of goods, including meat and laundry products, often filling up a holdall bag and leaving without paying.

He was first arrested on April 10 after police were called to a store in Newington, Ramsgate, following reports a man had stolen from the premises twice that day.

He attempted to flee but was caught by an officer who he hit with a bag of stolen goods.

Best was arrested on suspicion of theft and assaulting an emergency worker.

During another shoplifting attempt from a Ramsgate store earlier that month, he was confronted by a member of staff who he pushed over as he left.

When police went to arrest the 38-year-old, after using CCTV footage to identify him at the scene of 12 thefts, he also assaulted an officer, attempting to gouge out his eye, bite him and punch him in the face.

Best, of no fixed address, admitted the thefts as well as assaulting an emergency worker, causing actual bodily harm and assaulting a shop employee.

He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday, September 24, to two years and four months in prison, including 120 days from a suspended sentence he had previously received.

Inspector Shelah Thompson said: “The idea that you can walk into several shops and fill a bag with stolen goods and then assault anyone who challenges you is a foolish one.

“Kent Police works with businesses to ensure they have security measures in place like CCTV so when crime happens, the chances are improved of catching the criminal.

“In this case, Jordan Best was already known in the Thanet area to the local neighbourhood officers as they regularly patrol the streets and come into contact with a lot of people.

“When they reviewed the CCTV footage, they could name him and ultimately bring him before the courts.”