A THIEF who specialised in stealing aftershave from Boots has been sentenced to 60 days in a young offenders' institution.Richard Webb, of Campbell Road, Ipswich, was given the custodial term after a judge told him he was “well overdue” for a severe punishment.

A THIEF who specialised in stealing aftershave from Boots has been sentenced to 60 days in a young offenders' institution.

Richard Webb, of Campbell Road, Ipswich, was given the custodial term after a judge told him he was “well overdue” for a severe punishment.

The 20-year-old appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court charged with the theft of aftershave valued at £294 from a Boots store on March 13.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and the court was told he had been on bail at the time for four other offences of theft, including for taking aftershave from Boots.

During the hearing Judge David Cooper said: “He's on bail…he's put over for stealing from Boots and he goes and does it again.

“To be on bail and do exactly the same thing is really pushing it isn't it.

“He is well overdue for a custodial sentence. He can't expect to walk out of court after committing the same offence for which he was on bail.

“It strikes me that he thinks courts are a bit of a joke.”

Ian Duckworth, representing Webb at the court on Wednesday, said that he had previously had a drug problem and that had been behind his offending.

“I've made it clear to him it wasn't the smartest decision he has made,” he said.

“At the moment he is clean.”

Interjecting from the dock, Webb told the judge: “The only reason I shoplifted was to pay off debt.”

Judge Cooper sentenced him to 60 days for each of the five offences, to run concurrently.