A MAN has been jailed for more than five months for committing a string of crimes which included stealing from shops, a racially aggravated assault and the theft of a £1,000 bicycle.

Gavin Varty, aged 33 and of no fixed abode, admitted the offences and was put behind bars for 22 weeks.

In July, he took a £115 bottle of fragrance from Debenhams in Bournemouth and assaulted a man by beating him. He also snatched £32 of items from Co-op in Christchurch Road and stole a 10-inch Georgian Angel from The Ran Gallery in Westbourne Arcade.

He attempted to steal £232 in goods from fashion brand Flannels in Leeds nine months ago. At the same location he committed racially-aggravated assault, as well as assaults on two police officers. Varty trespassed in Cosy Club in Bournemouth, with intent to steal in March and the previous month he took a man’s £1,000 pedal cycle in Christchurch Road.

Back in December last year he used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress in Bristol.

Appearing at Poole Magistrates’ Court on December 8, Varty was ordered to pay a total of £1,500 in compensation to his various victims.