A serial shoplifter who stole close to £300 in DVDs from shops in Maidstone has received a suspended prison sentence.

Christopher Blaber, of Pier Road in Gillingham, was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment, suspended for two years, following two hearings at Medway Magistrates Court last week.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to all three counts of shoplifting and possessing cannabis.

He first appeared on Wednesday, October 23 after he stole 14 Blu-ray discs, worth £210, from Tesco in Courteney Road, Gillingham.

Following his arrest police found him to be in possession of cannabis.

Blaber also stole DVDs worth £182 from a shop in Maidstone on Friday, October 18 and six days later stole more DVDs from a town centre shop, this time valued at £106.93.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates for both offences on Friday, October 25.

On top of his suspended sentence Blaber must complete 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.

A curfew was also placed on him for the next three months.

It dictates he must remain at an address in Chatham between 7pm and 7am daily and runs from Wednesday, October 23 until Wednesday, January 22.

Blaber must also pay £50 in compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.