A SERIAL thief who stole items including detergent and Easter eggs has been jailed.

Leigh Marie McLaughlin targeted various stores in ten separate thefts.

Among those targeted were B&M Home Stores, One Stop and a Shell petrol station kiosk – all in Southampton.

The 24-year-old stole items including £360 of Lindt chocolate from Sainsbury's, handbags worth £40 from New Look and Easter eggs worth £25 from Tesco.

She pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft, between January and June this year, as well as failing to surrender to court, and failing to comply with her supervision order.

McLaughlin, of no fixed address, appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court, where she was jailed for eight weeks.

She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.