A PROLIFIC thief recently jailed for six-years for an attempted armed robbery has been given another jail term for stealing goods in Bishop Auckland.

Shaun Andrew McKerry, 31, of Benbow Walk, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, stole goods worth £199.91 from stores between March 5 and 11 this year.

Prosecutor Rachael Dodsworth said he entered Tesco, in Bishop Auckland, at 12.22pm on Sunday, March 5, and tried to steal a £400 Dyson vacuum.

She said McKerry placed the item in a suitcase which he pulled round the store until he was spotted by staff, after which he ran off leaving the goods behind.

Then on Wednesday, March 8, McKerry went into Beales department store, in Bishop Auckland, at 3.15pm.

He picked up five Yankee candles valued at £99.95 and put them in a bag. McKerry then swapped bags with another man who left the store with the goods.

On Saturday, March 11, McKerry entered Boots, in Bishop Auckland, just before midday and stole six bottles of aftershave worth £80.

Finally at 12.16pm on the same day he entered the B&M store, in Bishop Auckland, where he stole Gillette Mach 3 and Venus women’s razors worth £19.96.

Peter Hamill, mitigating, said his client was serving a six-year sentence for an armed robbery in Shildon which took place on Sunday, March 15.

He added that the crimes had been thefts of low level items.

McKerry appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court by video link where he pleaded guilty to three theft charges and one of attempted theft.

He was sentenced to six weeks in jail for the four offences which will run as part of his prison term for the armed robbery.