A JOBLESS man described by a judge as a "borderline professional shoplifter" has been jailed for a spate of offences across the North-East.

Joseph McGlade - first convicted at the age of 13 - was told community sentences had failed in the past and custody was the only way to stop him.

His barrister, Duncan McReddie, had argued that the 38-year-old needed help with a psychiatric problem - help he would not get behind bars.

But Judge Les Spittle said yesterday: "He may well need psychiatric help, but the public need a rest from him, certainly shops."

McGlade, of Moorbeck Way, Middlesbrough, admitted four thefts, one attempted theft, burglary and possessing a bladed article, and was jailed for a total of 15 months.

Teesside Crown Court heard how McGlade had a string of convictions for stealing from shops throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said McGlade carried tools to cut off security tags and on occasions refused to stop when caught by shop staff.

Judge Spittle told him: "You have repeatedly, by these courts, starting from the 1980s, been given every opportunity there is as an alternative to an immediate custodial sentence.

"They have tried everything with you but the pattern continues. You must be the despair of your wife and you certainly must be the despair of those who are shopkeepers.

"When I look at the locations of these offences, this is not someone who is nipping out locally to steal - it is someone with the hallmarks of a borderline professional shoplifter."

McGlade struck at PC World, in Durham, on March 14, 2005, and stole two computers after sneaking into a warehouse. He was tracked down in January and arrested.

But only days after being given bail, he was caught in Boots, in York, using a pair of pliers to take security tags off a printer - and threatened to use the tool to harm staff.

Twice in two days, McGlade struck at Sainsbury's, in Guisborough, east Cleveland, but was stopped the second time trying to flee the store with televisions in his trolley.

In February, he threatened to stab a security guard with a knife when he was caught trying to take an X-Box computer games console, and in April he was stopped in Asda, in Hartlepool, with £470 worth of goods in his trolley with security tags cut off.

Mr McReddie told the court: "Other more sophisticated criminals use Mr McGlade. He is clearly a man who is highly suggestable."