A man has been jailed following a thieving spree across Harrogate.

Jon Stevenson, 41, appeared at York Magistrates Court on Monday (February 16) charged with 24 separate counts of theft from a shop – all of which took place over the last year.

According to court records, the crime spree began on April 23 last year, when Stevenson stole £87 worth of medical items from The Co-op in Pannal.

Three days later, he returned to the store and again stole medical items – this time worth £43.

On November 14 last year, he stole £574 worth of medicine and health products at the Pannal store, before returning some hours later to steal meat and groceries to an unknown value. 

Stevenson - whose address is listed as HMP Wealstun, Edinburgh Terrace in Armley and North Parkway in Seacroft on court records – then stole £377 of medicine and health products from the Pannal Co-op on November 19. 

He stole £658 worth of health and beauty products from The Co-op on Jennyfield Drive on December 30 last year, £86 worth of meat from the Leeds Road Co-op on January 7 and chocolate to the value of £50 from the Knaresborough Road Co-op on January 12. 

He also committed several thefts across Wetherby and Leeds, including stealing £675 worth of goods from The Co-op on Nursery Lane near Alwoodley last month. 

Stevenson admitted all the offences and was ordered to spend a total of 44 weeks behind bars.

Court records say the offences are so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified, and cite the defendant’s “appalling record for like offending”.