KESGRAVE man Lloyd Ward went on a crime spree that saw him steal nearly £250 of goods from seven different Suffolk businesses. The 29-year-old, of Heath View, committed the thefts over an eight-month period to feed his heroin habit.

KESGRAVE man Lloyd Ward went on a crime spree that saw him steal nearly £250 of goods from seven different Suffolk businesses.

The 29-year-old, of Heath View, committed the thefts over an eight-month period to feed his heroin habit.

All the stolen items were of a low value, but Ward had managed flee the scene of each of his crimes without being apprehended.

That was until February this year, when he was caught stealing a four-pack of lager from the One Stop Convenience Store, in Penzance Road, Kesgrave.

Ward was arrested for the offence and then linked to four previous thefts that spanned back to July last year.

Prosecutor Gareth Davies said: "The chickens came home to roost and all the previous crimes were linked together."

These thefts included stealing a £109 CD player, Gillette razors, two cooked chickens and two bottles of champagne from businesses in Martlesham Heath and Copdock.

On each occasion, he was caught on closed circuit television but managed to flee the scene of every crime. On one occasion, he escaped using a bicycle.

When he was finally arrested for the offences, he was charged and bailed to attend court on February 25.

He failed to turn up and in the mean time committed three further thefts. This included stealing £75 worth of cheese from the Coop Store, in Clapgate Lane, Ipswich, on March 3. One day later he returned to store to steal £15 worth of bacon.

He also stole £15 worth of petrol from the BP garage, in Martlesham Heath on March 2.

Ward, who has previous offences of dishonesty, pleaded guilty to the offences and bench chairwoman Fenella Blastland sentenced him to a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

He was also ordered to pay compensation totalling £243 to the victims of his crimes after magistrates were told none of the stolen items were recovered.