A man was stealing alcohol from a branch of Marks and Spencer for two weeks before security staff started to recognise his car and connect with the crimes.
William Newman, 34, of Elm Lodge Road in Wraxall, parked his car outside the Cribbs Causeway M&S while committing 10 separate thefts of spirits. By the time staff had realised his vehicle was always present in the car park around the time of each crime he had made off with £856 worth of booze.
Newman pleaded guilty to multiple theft at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Feb 12).
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Judge James Patrick jailed him for 16 months, which included two months activation of a previously suspended sentence.
He told Newman: "The general public would be horrified if it was less than immediate custody."
Nicholas Fridd, prosecuting, said as well as being identified for the thefts, Newman had repeatedly failed to engage with the probation service on his suspended term.
Emma Martin, defending, said her client went from an addiction to Class A drugs to "desperate" alcohol consumption and stole for his own needs.
