A MAN who breached a community order by entering Festival Place in Basingstoke and stealing from Poundland has been sent to jail.

Jack Harris, 28, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a community protection notice by entering Festival Place on two occasions – on May 4 and May 8.

On the second occasion, Harris stole hair products worth £87.75 from Poundland.

Following a guilty plea, he was sentenced on Monday, July 15.

On the same day, he was also sentenced for stealing sun cream worth £101 from Tesco at Carpenters Down in Basingstoke on June 7 and chocolate bars from WHSmith on July 12.

He also assaulted an emergency worker at Joices Yard car park in Basingstoke on July 12.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching the community protection order by entering the grounds that make up Festival Place and The Malls in connection with these incidents.

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 15, jailed Harris for 12 weeks. 

He was also ordered to pay compensation for the stolen items.

The magistrate said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, and because the defendant had a flagrant disregard for court orders, people and their property.