A career criminal has been locked up for his latest raft of offences including shoplifting, knife possession and smearing faeces on a camera in a police station cell.

Christopher Webster, who has 11 convictions for 224 offences on his record, stole corned beef, hair straighteners, jewellery and fragrances during a plethora of shoplifting offences.

The 42-year-old was found guilty of carrying a knife while in Darlington Memorial Hospital after he failed to turn up for his trial, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, said the serial offender stole goods from the Co-op and TK Maxx in July and August.

He said Webster had smeared excrement on a security camera inside a police cell following one of his arrests in July which resulted in it needing a deep clean.

Christopher WebsterChristopher Webster (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Webster, of Headlam House, Darlington, pleaded guilty to shoplifting, criminal damage, assault an emergency worker, failure to surrender to court bail and possession of Class C drugs. He was found guilty of the bladed article offence.

Reece Williams, mitigating, said his client had a longstanding problem with drugs and alcohol which was central to his repeat offending.

He added: “He accepts that the issues result from him falling in with the wrong crowd and in recent years it has been exacerbated by the death of all of his immediate family.”

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Recorder Tayrn Turner locked the repeat offender up for a total of 14 months for a raft of offences over a short period of time.

“When I say a raft of offences, I’m right in saying they total 11. They are also a variety of offences but I have to acknowledge they are all relatively low level with the exception of possession of a bladed article and assault on emergency worker,” she said.

“You have a long unattractive history of offending; I have read your pre-sentence report and it is quite clear to me that you have been beset by a number of difficulties.

“In the course of your lifetime you have amassed some 111 convictions for 224 offences.”