A PROLIFIC shoplifter spent Christmas in prison after admitting two new thefts.

Elizabeth Cooper, of Somerford Road in Christchurch, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court last month to admit stealing items worth a total of £163 from Aldi and Tesco in Springbourne.

The thefts took place on March 18 2018.

However, the following month, Cooper, 34, failed to appear at the court for a hearing.

She finally appeared before magistrates on December 21 to plead guilty to two counts and theft and failing to surrender.

Cooper was also charged with a separate indictment, which alleged two further counts of theft from the BP in Somerford Road on July 18 and 19.

She admitted both charges, as well as two counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order barring her from the BP garage altogether.

In addition, the defendant admitted the commission of a further offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence order made for 12 counts of theft and three of failing her bail conditions.

As a result, she was sentenced to a total of 20 weeks in prison.

Cooper, who routinely steals meat from shops including Aldi and Marks and Spencer, has a "poor record" and "offended very soon after the imposition of a suspended sentence order", magistrates said.