A man who was banned from entering any Co-op store in an entire county has been jailed on his birthday.

Jason Glasgow, who is of no fixed abode but from the Colchester area, appeared for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday.

Glasgow, who turned 36 from Thursday, had pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft from a shop, all relating to Co-op stores in Colchester.

He also pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order, having been banned from entering any stores in Essex belonging to the chain by the court on October 21, 2022.

The court heard that all eight thefts had been committed between May 27 and June 9 this year.

On May 27, he had visited a branch in the Wimpole Road shop and took “various meats” valued at £79.90, leaving without paying.

On June 2, he stole from the Fivefields Court store four times.

According to court documents, on his first trip he took four packs of rump steak, five packs of honest value steaks and two jars of Lorclasque Coffee.

He returned, and this time took seven packets of garlic and herb steaks, four packs of sweet chilli kebabs, four packs of minted lamb kebabs, four packs of chicken breasts, a pack of sizzled steaks, and three tubs of Ariel detergent.

Glasgow returned again, and this time took four jars of Nescafe coffee, six jars of Kenco coffee and a chocolate milkshake.

On his fourth visit, Glasgow took 10 packs of smoked salmon, four pack of prawns, three packs of bacon, three pack of burgers, and two strawberry milkshakes. He also took various air freshener products and Ariel, Percil and Fairy washing products.

Glasgow continued his run of thefts, stealing from the Fivefields store again on June 5 and June 8.

On June 9, he was apprehended by a security guard at the Wimpole Road branch, who retrained him to the ground. The court heard that Glasgow then pulled out a capped needle, and before removing the cap.

The security guard let him go for his own safety, but Glasgow was quickly apprehended.

The court heard that in total, Glasgow stole £583.12 of products.

Recorder Thomas Moran sentenced Glasgow to two years in prison, which he reduced to 16 months in light of his guilty pleas. He told Glasgow that he can expect to serve half of that time before he is released.