A CAR thief who stopped for petrol close to the scene of the crime had to find alternative transport after the vehicle he'd just stolen was taken back by its rightful owner.

Paul Chamberlain spotted his wife's red Mazda CX5 at the Tesco filling station in Bursledon just minutes after she had told him that it had been stolen.

He had spare set of keys and was able to drive the car off.

The theft of the car, from outside a hairdressers in Bitterne Park, was one of ten crimes committed by serial thief William Mason in just 15 days, Southampton Crown Court heard.

During his drug-fuelled crime spree, between November 1 and November 16, Mason would often leave personal items at the crime scenes which would help the police investigation.

Among the items he dropped were mobile phones, MP3 players, lighters and even the tools he used to break in.

Thirty year-old Mason, of Adey Close, Sholing, pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Among the businesses Mason targeted were Chilworth Golf Club and Southampton Reptile Centre, in Deacon Road, which both lost more than £4,000.

During the break in at the reptile centre he was spotted making his escape, carrying a ladder, by the shop owner. Mason lunged the man with the ladder and fled.

Other shops hit were TrophyMan Suppliers, Kelly Louise Hair Salon and Dawns Flower Box, where he stole cuddly toys.

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson told the court how Mason's planning of the burglaries could backfire on him.

He said: "Mason went to the business (Chilworth Golf Club) to make enquiries about using vouchers for golf clubs. Members of staff became concerned as it appeared he had no knowledge of golf or golf clubs. They took down his car’s registration number and took CCTV images of him."

In addition to the burglaries Mason also admitting stealing bank cards from a member of the public, using them three times.

Mitigating, Nicola Talbot-Hadley told the court Mason had a "very serious cocaine and heroine addiction" which led to the spate of charges.

She said since the incidents he had become clean and begun to sort his life out, adding: "At the time he was not telling anyone about his problems because he was feeling so ashamed of himself. All of the crimes were used to find his drug habit."

The court was told that all the money Mason stole was irretrievable as it had been spent on drugs.

It also heard that Mason was previously sent to jail after he bought a BB gun to the Red Lion, in Bitterne, in July last year which fell out of his pocket prompting armed officers to rush to the premises.

Mason was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. As part of his sentence he must prove he is clean of drugs and carry out a number of rehabilitation days.

Paul Chamberlain was told by partner Victoria that her Mazda had been taken from Cobden Crescent after she went back to it following her appointment in November.

Unknown to her, the vehicle had been taken by serial thief William Mason - who along with taking her car stole thousands of pounds from five businesses during a drug-fuelled 15 day burglary spree.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Mrs Chamberlain immediately contacted her husband, who had a spare set of keys. Mr Chamberlain rushed straight to his car to go out looking for the vehicle.

And when he was filling up his car with petrol at Tesco, in Bursledon.

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said: "It was only by coincidence that as he pulled into Tesco to fill up his car in order to continue with his search, he had found the stolen car.

"It seems the defendant was inside the petrol station paying for fuel in the car. Mr Chamberlain reclaimed the stolen car and drove off using his spare key. The defendant was unaware of where it had gone as he left the station."

This was just one in a serious of offences 30-year-old Mason pleaded guilty to at his hearing.