A THIEF who failed to come back to court on four separate occasions has been spared a prison sentence.

Jack Winter, who is of no fixed abode, repeatedly skipped court hearings after being charged with a number of offences.

On Wednesday, the 32-year-old finally appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to a community order after it was heard he has spent some three weeks in custody after police caught up with him.

Winter admitted undertaking or assisting in the realisation of a stolen bank card, fraud by false representation. attempted theft, burglary, possession of a class A drug and five counts of theft, as well as four counts of failing to surrender to the custody of the court.

He was sentenced to a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay a total of £275.12 compensation to some of his victims.

The court heard he targeted individuals and a range of businesses, including a Londis and the Old Castle Hotel in Weymouth and Lidl in Christchurch Road, Boscombe.

Magistrates decided to sentence Winter to a community order because he has already been in custody for several weeks.