A SERIAL meat thief has been jailed after being caught by a police CCTV appeal.

Police issued a picture of a man wanted by officers over the series of thefts earlier this week.

Derek Lilley, of Phoenix Brow, St Helens was arrested shortly after the appeal.

The thefts occurred at the Iceland store in Albert Square Shopping Centre, Marks and Spencer on Widnes Retail Park and the Co-op on Liverpool Road, Widnes between Sunday, April 5, and Monday, April 20.

Large quantities of meat were stolen during each incident.

Lilley, 46, was charged with three counts of thefts and admitted all counts at Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He was sentenced to nine weeks behind bars by the magistrates.