A SHOPLIFTER who stole to 'feed his drug habit' has been jailed after admitting 16 thefts.

Joseph Scibilia was called a "prolific offender" when he was sentenced at Poole Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old, of Westover Road in Bournemouth, has carried out a string of offences over the past 11 months, targeting shops including Marks and Spencer at Poole's Dolphin Centre, Wilko and Superdry in Bournemouth and Tesco in The Triangle.

The defendant stole items including meat, coffee, perfume, electric razor blades, trainers and toothbrush heads.

He also repeatedly struck at Waitrose in Winton, stealing bottles of spirits worth a total of £458.50.

The most expensive single item stolen by Scibilia was a Bose Soundtouch speaker worth some £249. The speaker was stolen from John Lewis in Poole on July 30.

As well as the thefts, the defendant admitted commission of a further offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence order for three further thefts.

In total, he was jailed for 16 weeks after magistrates said he had failed to comply with his previous court orders.