A VERWOOD man has been jailed for 12 months after carrying out a string of offences in the town.

Jonathan Griffiths punched a 19-year-old man at the Tesco Express in Ringwood Road after he was confronted for alleged shoplifting on the night of Sunday, May 17.

Bournemouth Magistrates Court heard how the 20-year-old continued using threatening and insulting words to the victim before throwing a beer can toward the front of the store and running off.

He was arrested the following day, and later pleaded guilty to assault by beating and breach of an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

Griffiths, of Montrose Drive, was given a 28 week jail term on May 19, and three days later a further five months were added to the sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court after he admitted burglary.

Police Community Support Officer Robin Morgan, of Verwood and Three Legged Cross Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "This is an excellent result for the residents of Verwood who have been plagued by the behaviour of Jonathan Griffiths over a long period of time.

"This sentence is the culmination of many hours of work by Verwood’s Safer Neighbourhood Team and it sends out a very strong message that crime like this will not be tolerated in Dorset."