AN "APPALLING" thief has been jailed again after racking up convictions for more than 150 offences.

Prolific shoplifter Marc Palmer yelled at staff members who caught him stealing from Home Bargains in Eastleigh before launching a nicked dash-cam at a scared employee.

In a two-month period, the 37-year-old, who had previously been convicted 67 time for 166 offences, 101 of which were for shoplifting matters, was seen on CCTV footage a further four times, stealing bottles of booze and cleaning products from stores in Southampton and Eastleigh.

Southampton Crown Court heard Palmer carried out "unsophisticated but planned" attacks on the shops he targeted, which were usually in shops which were "unmanned on the shopfloor", the prosecution said.

Lucy Conroy, prosecutor, told the court Palmer stole bottles of Chardonnay and cleaning items from Co-op, on Harbour Parade, razors from Boots and Famous Grouse whiskey from Sainsburys - both in Eastleigh.

However, after he was spotted by a member of staff filling a Home Bargains bag full of dash-cams before walking out of the shop, his offending was bought to an end.

Miss Conroy said a member of staff confronted Palmer who then shouted "take it then" as he threw the recording equipment at the employee.

All of these offences breached a suspended sentence order Palmer was handed last year at the same court for committing actual bodily harm against his wife.

Adam Norris, mitigating, said Palmer's wife was "his rock" and after he was released from custody when acquitted of assaulting a police officer, he found his mother had died.

Struggling to cope, Palmer went "on a downward spiral" and went back to using drugs and thieving to fund his old habit, Mr Norris told the court.

Mr Norris added: "Palmer is remorseful...he knows he has caused a lot of pain, anxiety and problems for people."

In sentencing, Miss Recorder Hannah Willcocks said Palmer, of Tinning Way, Eastleigh, had "shown a complete disregard to court orders and authority" after carrying out the persistent offences. She added Palmer's record was "appalling".

Palmer, who pleaded guilty to three thefts and using threatening language and was found guilty of two further thefts, was sentenced to four months imprisonment.