A THIEF who stole more than £1,200 worth of goods in a shoplifting spree which lasted more almost three months has avoided jail.

Dale Hayward, of London Road, Reading stole personal care items from a range of stores across the town from March to July 2020.

His crime spree began in Boots on March 7 when he stole an electric shaver worth £152.

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Three days later the 33-year-old stole clothing worth £199 from John Lewis in Reading.

And ten days after this Hayward stole booze from Marks and Spencer worth £66.

It would be another two months before the Reading man struck again when he stole razor blades from Boots worth £232.50 on May 26.

Boots was his target again on May 28 when he robbed the store of perfume worth £510.

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He went back for more razor blades belonging to Boots on May 29, 2020, this time worth £49.98.

This would be his last act of thievery, however, and Hayward initially pleaded not guilty to six counts of theft when he appeared at court in September 2020.

However, he changed his plea to guilty at Reading Magistrates’ Court on July 1, 2021.

Following his admissions, Hayward was told to pay £1,106.50 in compensation despite stealing items worth £1,209.48 altogether.

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He also avoided jail, instead being sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Hayward was also told to take part in up to 20 rehabilitation activity days following his court appearance earlier this month.