A shoplifter who repeatedly stole from stores despite being banned from entering the town centre has been sent back to jail after he was found with a carpet knife.

Gerard McGuiness, of no fixed address, had been issued with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) on January 26 after repeated reports of antisocial behaviour in Whitstable and being drunk in public.

The notice issued by the police prohibited him from entering the town centre or causing a nuisance.

Despite this, McGuiness continued to steal from shops in the town and was arrested, charged and jailed for 150 days in February this year.

Shortly after his release on April 30, police spotted the 30-year-old on Whitstable High Street with an open bottle of beer – breaching two terms of the CPN.

Following a stop and search, he was found to have a carpet knife in his pocket and was arrested for possession of a knife.

While being transported to custody, McGuiness repeatedly kicked and tried to bite a police officer.

As a result, he was later charged with breach of a CPN, possession of a knife and assaulting an emergency worker.

McGuiness admitted those offences on June 6 and was jailed for 328 days at Canterbury Crown Court.

Inspector Paul Barrell, of Canterbury district's Victim Based Crime Team, said: “Kent Police will not tolerate people who make life a misery for residents and businesses in our towns and city.

“The two jail terms handed down during the course of this CPN show we will take robust action against those who steal from shops and cause problems in town centres.”