A thief who stole milk, Lurpak, coffee and steaks during a three-month stealing spree has narrowly avoided jail.

Craig Hodgson, 42, of Hartington Road, Stockton-on-Tees, was handed a 52-week sentence, suspended for 18 months after he appeared in Teesside Magistrates' Court on June 14. 

According to court documents, Teesside Magistrates' adjudged the offending to be too serious to not give a suspended custodial term to Hodgson. 

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Hodgson appeared in court charged with three offences of theft from a shop. 

On the first occasion, on February 3, 2023, he stole 12 packs of logs, costing £96, from Bishop Auckland Morrisons.

On another occasion, on January 31, 2023, he stole nine packs of steak, one pack of Lurpak, four jars of coffee, two washing-up powders and one bottle of milk, to the value of £110, belonging to Food Warehouse in Bishop Auckland.

Alongside their reason for imposing a suspended jail term on Hodgson, the court said he "has a flagrant disregard for people and their property."

As well as the suspended jail term, he must also participate in 19 days of a court programme and do 30 days of unpaid work.