A PROLIFIC shoplifter who would not stop offending is in jail today after he took up burglary while on bail.John Millwood, of Hyntle Close, Ipswich, had been caught shoplifting more than 100 times, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A PROLIFIC shoplifter who would not stop offending is in jail today after he took up burglary while on bail.

John Millwood, of Hyntle Close, Ipswich, had been caught shoplifting more than 100 times, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The 43-year-old who mainly stole food to exchange for drugs to feed his raging drug habit crossed the threshold of seriousness when he burgled a man's house.

Michael Crimp prosecuting said the man woke up in his Newson Street house and realised someone was downstairs.

Mr Crimp said: “He shouted from the top of the stairs but when he came down the intruder had gone”.

He said a Play Station, camcorder and mobile phone had been taken but Millwood had left behind his fingerprints.

Millwood had been jailed for 14 days in March for shoplifting and an anti-social behaviour order was made to stop him entering various shops.

However the court heard that on May 11 Millwood stole meat and dairy produce from Sainsbury's in Hadleigh Road.

On May 28 he went to the Suffolk Retail Park from where he had been banned and he was arrested.

Millwood appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on June 1 and was released on bail, but by 5.30 that day he was spotted on CCTV in a food store from where he was banned and the staff watched as he stole six packets of food valued at £10.

On June 3 he was remanded in custody but released again on bail on June 26 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

It was while he was on bail that Millwood committed the burglary. Again he was remanded in custody and on September 13 he was again released on bail while another report and an assessment for drug rehabilitation was considered.

On September 17 Millwood stole five joints of meat worth £9 each from Lidl's. Millwood pleaded guilty to breaching the ASBO, theft and burglary.

Jonathan Seely, mitigating, said Millwood was genuinely sorry for committing the burglary and said it was “out of character” although he had a similar previous conviction.

Mr Seely added that Millwood told police: “They let me out of prison and I had no money, I had no clothes, I am a shoplifter.”

Judge Gareth Davies said: “Burglary during the hours of darkness of occupied premises where the occupant is disturbed is very serious. Some people never recover from that experience. It is absolutely horrifying.”

He jailed Millwood for a total of two years.