A prolific shoplifter who repeatedly targeted a number of supermarkets and stole items totalling £1,000 has been jailed.

Mark Hewitt, from Sittingbourne, shouted racist abuse at officers, threw food and urinated in his cell when he was arrested for his crimes.

The 48-year-old is responsible for a catalogue of offences between May and August, when he stole meat and alcohol from shops including Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Marks & Spencer.

Hewitt, of Crown Quay Lane, was initially arrested by police on Sunday, May 7.

He was charged and released on bail pending a court appearance but continued to steal.

On Wednesday, July 21, he was arrested again and charged with further offences.

While he was detained, Hewitt threw food and urinated in his cell.

After appearing before court, he was subject to bail conditions prior to sentencing, but his crimewave continued.

On Saturday, August 5, an off-duty officer witnessed Hewitt committing another theft at a shop in East Street, Sittingbourne. It was later discovered he had taken items from the same store earlier that day.

Hewitt was arrested and whilst being taken into custody subjected two officers to a tirade of racial abuse.

He was remanded to Medway Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced last Monday – having pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft, two counts of racially aggravated harassment, and two counts of criminal damage.

Hewitt was jailed for a year and fined almost £200.

‘He is a career criminal who has shown no remorse for his actions.’

Sgt John Sangster, of the Swale Victim Based Crime Team said: “Shoplifting has a detrimental impact on businesses and the local community and Kent Police takes all reports of such offences seriously.

“Hewitt repeatedly targeted stores in areas including Faversham, Sittingbourne and Queenborough and subjected our officers to abhorrent and unacceptable abuse.

“He is a career criminal who has shown no remorse for his actions.

“This sentence is just another example of our crackdown on shop thieves in the district, which has seen 73 charges authorised in June and July.

“We are continuing to focus on tackling anti-social behaviour, including shoplifting, as part of the force's ongoing safer summer initiative.”