A THIEF who stole two laptop computers from a Salisbury store was behind a series of thefts across the country, a court heard.
Christopher Spence, 41, appeared before magistrates in Salisbury on Thursday charged with stealing two laptops worth £679 from the Currys store, Southampton Road, on February 10.
The court heard he was caught after a supervisor at the store became suspicious and took down the registration number of his car before reviewing CCTV footage.
Spence, of Newport, Wales, pleaded guilty to theft and admitted he had later sold the laptops in a pub for £250.
The court heard he has 70 previous thefts on his record and was recently given a 48-week suspended sentence with supervision and drug and alcohol rehabilitation requirements at Chester Crown Court for a number of similar offences.
He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £339 compensation and £85 costs.
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