A MAN has avoided an immediate prison sentence for a string of theft offences.

Corey William Gudgeon, 40, was committed to prison for 10 weeks, suspended for six months at Poole Magistrates’ Court on April 16.

Gudgeon, of no fixed abode, admitted six counts of theft alongside other offences.

The court heard that he stole bottles of spirit worth £89 from Co-op in Moordown on December 10, 2020. On the same day he stole £72.80 worth of food and drink from Co-op in Madeira Road, Bournemouth.

Four days later he stole goods to the value of £460.19 from Tesco in Wimborne Road, Bournemouth.

On December 16, he caused damage to the BP premises in Longfleet Road, Poole, along with stealing a bottle of wine and causing fear or provocation of violence. He also assaulted PC Daniel Blagden in Bournemouth.

Last month, on March 18, he stole food and drink worth £22.79 from Co-op in Madeira Road. He targeted the store again on March 30, stealing food worth £28.10.

District judge Stephen Nicholls handed him concurrent suspended prison sentences for his spate of offending.

Gudgeon was ordered to pay £89 compensation to Moordown Co-op, £100 to the victim of the public order offence and £100 to PC Blagden.

No orders were made for the other thefts as the goods were recovered or there was insufficient details provided by the prospector to the court.