A serial thief who has been targeting Co-op stores across Swindon is being sent back to prison after more offences.

Craig Parmenter, of no fixed address, appeared before Swindon Magistrates' Court on April 29 after committing five theft offences in one week.

This brings his total number of recorded thefts up to 72.

The 36-year-old targeted three different Co-op stores on five occasions between April 20 and April 27, stealing £616.05 worth of items in total.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger told the court: "There are 67 previous theft matters on his record and of the 47 offences from last year, 36 of them were committed against Co-op stores.

"On each occasion, he has entered the store and selected mostly food items and then left making no attempt to pay."

Swindon Advertiser: Craig Parmenter has become a known thief in Co-op stores across Swindon.Craig Parmenter has become a known thief in Co-op stores across Swindon. (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Parmenter, who has been in and out of prison multiple times, admitted to the court that he steals to fund his drug habit but gave no explanation as to why he targets Co-op stores in particular.

"He recognises he is stuck in a revolving door of stealing and prison time and stealing and more prison time and he knows this cycle needs to be broken," said defence lawyer Emma Hillier.

"He is fed up with the life he is leading and wants to break this cycle of drug habits that has plagued him."

The serial thief was last before the court in March 2024 and already had £1,899 of outstanding court fines from previous offences before he appeared again in April.

On the morning of his court appearance, Parmenter was informed that he was being recalled to prison until May 10.

Swindon Advertiser: Co-op on Somerville Road is just one of the many stores that Parmenter has targeted.Co-op on Somerville Road is just one of the many stores that Parmenter has targeted. (Image: Google Maps)

"We're going to give you a prison sentence which will run at the same time as your recall to prison," said chair of the magistrates' bench Rachel Gowshall.

"This is a revolving door that you're stuck in and it is having an impact on the community. The reason we are sentencing you to a custodial sentence is that your offending is persistent."

Parmenter will now serve a six-week prison sentence, alongside his 11-day recall, and has been ordered to pay £534.70 in compensation to Co-op.

"We will not add any surcharge or additional costs on top of that because of your outstanding fines that you are already paying," added the chair of the bench.