A prolific burglar and shoplifter has been locked up after going on a crime spree where he ransacked a charity shop and raided a designer clothing store stealing thousands of pounds worth of stock.

Paul Atkinson racked up nine offences within a two-month period before being caught after breaking into a vets in Hartlepool in April this year.

The 45-year-old committed the last of his offences a week after he received a suspended sentence for another raft of crimes.

Teesside Crown Court heard how his latest spate of offences started on February 27 when he smashed his way into Cuba Menswear in Hartlepool and stole £7,000 worth of stock.

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Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said his next five offences were all shoplifting related with the defendant stealing Lindt chocolates, Prosecco gift sets and Ferrero Rocher from two different Sainsburys in the town.

Atkinson also stole from Boots and a Spar shop in March this year, the court heard.

Miss Haigh added: “On April 1 at 4.45am the defendant entered Poolie Time Emporium charity shop by forcing up a metal shutter, whilst in the shop he made an untidy search of the till area where he stole two iPhones, a bank card reader and £225 in cash.”

Atkinson’s next target was a barber shop on Market Place, Hartlepool, where he smashed a window and stole a light display before fleeing the scene on April 15.

His spree came to an end on April 23, less than a week after receiving a suspended sentence, when he was arrested following burglary at Clinton Lodge Vets where he ransacked the business premises.

The Northern Echo: Paul AtkinsonPaul Atkinson (Image: Cleveland Police)

Atkinson, of Grange Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to four non-dwelling premises and five shoplifting offences between February 27 and April 23.

The defendant has 41 convictions for 96 offences, predominantly for theft and burglary.

Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said his client’s only mitigation was his early guilty pleas to all offences and that he was addressing his crack cocaine addiction whilst in custody.

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Recorder Aisha Wadoodi told Atkinson he had one of the ‘worst records’ she had seen in recent times as she jailed him for two years.

She added: “You have a very bad record and it seems to have got worse in recent years. Recently you have managed to come off drugs in prison and certainly from looking at you now, you seem to have detoxed.

“You cannot continue down this road of offending that you have done in the last few years.”

Atkinson’s 18-week suspended sentence from April 17 was also activated in full.