A SERIAL thief who stole more than £1,600 worth of items from a store during a spree across several months has been put behind bars.

Jack McCarthy appeared before Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court last Tuesday, July 23.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of theft. He stole from a Boots shop, in St Helens, on six separate occasions between September last year and March 2024.

On September 10, 2023, McCarthy stole various beauty products, to the value of £420. A fortnight later, on September 24, he took five scented candles, worth £123.95.

READ > Two arrested after 'me entered property subject to closure order'

Then on October 2, he stole various beauty products, to the value of £35. A week later, on October 9, he snatched various Christmas beauty product gift sets, to the value of £300.

Meanwhile, on October 22, the defendant stole  two scented candles and four make up brush gift sets, worth £295.98.

And on March 1 this year, he took numerous perfume box gift sets, which were worth £499.

Magistrates sentenced McCarthy to prison for his offences.

According to a court sheet, his offending was "so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified". It added the defendant was jailed because of his "offending history".

It was stated that it was the "same retailer affected by multiple offences" and the stolen property was "not recovered".

McCarthy was sentenced at the magistrates' courtMcCarthy was sentenced at the magistrates' court (Image: St Helens Star)

McCarthy was not ordered to pay compensation as "it is inappropriate to make a compensation order as the court imposed a custodial sentence", the court sheet added.

The 31-year-old, of HMP Altcourse, was given concurrent 16-week jail terms for each count.