A SERIAL thief has been jailed for almost a year after stealing more than £1,000 of goods from Hampshire supermarkets.

In one raid alone, William Henry Castle stole more than £450 of goods from Asda in Totton.

Just days later, on March 25, the 58-year-old stole almost £400 worth of items.

Castle, of Ranmore Court, Dibden, also carried out two raids at Waitrose in Hythe last month, stealing a total of more than £200.

He pleaded guilty to the four thefts and was jailed at Southampton Magistrates' Court for a total of four months.

Magistrates also heard how the offences were committed while Castle was on a conditional discharge, imposed in January, for another series of thefts.

They resentenced Castle for the six offences, giving him another six months in prison – meaning a total sentence of 10 months.