A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for a string of thefts two weeks into a court order banning him from several stores for two years.

Carl Westfield, 46, was handed a criminal behaviour order on February 16 prohibiting him from any Co-op store in Norwich as well as branches of Tesco, Morrisons, Roys, McColls and Food Warehouse. 

But he was back stealing from the Co-Op and Morrisons in Catton on March 8, Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told.

Eastern Daily Press: Westfield was banned from every Co-Op store in Norwich for two years on February 16Westfield was banned from every Co-Op store in Norwich for two years on February 16 (Image: Newsquest)

He was also identified from CCTV leaving with various concealed items and making no attempt to pay at Co-Op stores on March 17, 19 and 21. 

READ MORE: Serial shoplifter banned from Tesco and the Co-op in Norwich

Deputy District Judge Sundeep Pankhania told him: “You are a plague on the shops around Norwich. Such is the scale of your offending, I’m surprised some stores are able to keep their businesses going.” 

Westfield, of Earlham Grove in Norwich, pleaded guilty to five shop thefts, breaches of a criminal behaviour order and possession of crack cocaine.

Appearing at court in custody, he also admitted being in breach of a suspended 16 week suspended prison sentence.

Eastern Daily Press: Within two weeks of the court order Westfield was back stealing from the Co-Op and other prohibited stores Within two weeks of the court order Westfield was back stealing from the Co-Op and other prohibited stores (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

That jail term and his shop ban had been imposed by magistrates after he had admitted 12 theft from shop charges and asked for four more to be taken into consideration. 

READ MORE: Notorious Norwich offender jailed again after police siege armed with table leg

Emma Lloyd, mitigating, said: “He is a prolific offender - that is not something he shies away from or uses as an excuse.”

He had been battling for a long time with drug use, she added.

Deputy District Judge Pankhania said he had no choice but to activate the suspended prison sentence. 

Jailing him for eight months he told Westfield: “You were back committing offences within weeks of this suspended sentence.

“I have absolutely no confidence that if I were to sentence you to any other type of order that you would comply with it.”