A prolific young criminal has finally been jailed after continuing to offend - despite being the subject of two suspended sentences. 

Billy Stratton, who has 55 previous offences, was told he had “exhausted the patience of everyone who was there to help”. 

The 22-year-old, from Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 12 months in July after being arrested on the A47 at the wheel of a stolen Fiat Punto while four times over the drink drive limit.  

WATCH: Yarmouth burglar blows FOUR times limit in stolen car

However, despite admitting nine offences including burglary, theft, driving while disqualified, driving while unfit and failing to provide a specimen, he was spared immediate custody with the jail term suspended for 18 months. 

Norwich Crown Court was told within months he was back offending again and was arrested for shoplifting a £13 duvet from the Asda store in Great Yarmouth. 

This meant he was also in breach of another suspended sentence imposed at Norwich Magistrates' Court last year for driving while disqualified.

Danielle O’Donovan, representing the prosecution service, said he had shown “wilful non-compliance" with his suspended sentences including ignoring appointments and attempting to remove his alcohol monitoring tag. 

Billy Stratton has been jailed for nine months at Norwich Crown CourtBilly Stratton has been jailed for nine months at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Recorder Ciaran Rankin sentenced him to nine months saying he was a “high-risk offender” and that probation officers had deemed that there was nothing more probation could do with him in the community. 

READ MORE: Youth jailed for anti-social behaviour in Yarmouth

“You were given a cocktail of programmes designed to help you, but rather than taking advantage of that you continued to offend,” he said.

“You have now exhausted the patience of everyone who was there to help you.”

The court was told his previous offences had included robbery, handling stolen goods, vehicle thefts and an assault that had previously seen him jailed in 2020.

When stopped in the stolen car on the A47 near Wisbech on March 5 he brazenly refused to believe he had blown 150 - four times the limit of 35 - telling police: “I never blew 150. You're lying.”