A PROLIFIC thief has been locked up after stealing booze worth more than £1,000 from Booths.

Paul Akred targeted Booths supermarkets in Ulverston and Windermere on four occasions in December, January and April.

The 40-year-old, of Abbotsmead Approach in Barrow, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and one count of assault when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court last week.

On Saturday December 14 Akred went into the Ulverston store and walked out with one bottle of Grey Goose vodka, four bottles of Chase Vodka, one bottle of Belvedere, two bottles of Botanist Dry Gin and one bottle of Victoria's Rhubarb Gin.

The haul was worth £383.

On January 22 he visited the Booths in Windermere and stole a number of bottles of spirits worth an estimated £446.

Then on April 11 he returned to the Ulverston store and took two bottles of Hendricks Gin, two bottles of Midsummer Gin and five bottles of Bathtub Gin worth a total of £303.

His last shoplifting spree happened on April 25 when he made his final visit to the Ulverston supermarket.

He stole alcohol worth a total of £323 and also assaulted Richard Braithwaite.

Magistrates said Akred had a significant record of previous offences of dishonesty and was a prolific offender.

They also highlighted the high value of items stolen and the fact he had targeted specific stores and made several visits.

Akred was jailed for 26 weeks and told to pay £1,132 in compensation to Booths.