A PRISONER managed to make more than 70 calls on a prohibited mobile phone before he was caught, a court heard.

Paul Hutton appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, having pleaded guilty to possession of a mobile phone and to a string of 14 unrelated shoplifting offences.

Prosecuting, Cathy Oliver said the 39-year-old was found using the phone in his cell at HMP Bullingdon on May 9, 2018.

He was in the prison, near Bicester, while awaiting sentence for another matter.

The device was found to have 71 dialled calls logged on it, plus two received calls.

Judge Ian Pringle said Hutton, of George Street in Reading, had made 'a career of shoplifting.'

He also faced sentence on Thursday for a catalogue of thefts, including more than £1,000 worth of clothes from John Lewis, items from Ralph Lauren, sunglasses, and champagne from Sainsbury's.

The court did not hear the specific locations of where the shops were, but Ms Oliver said on one occasion, Hutton 'rushed at a security guard and nearly knocked him over' as he ran off.

Hutton has amassed more than 40 convictions, and was described by Judge Pringle as a 'prolific offender.'

His defence barrister explained that he had an 'entrenched drug addiction, which started off with social cannabis use and has escalated into a heroin addiction.

Judge Pringle spoke of the 'revolving door' of prison for drug addicts who commit offences, in that they get clean inside and often relapse as soon as they come out, and get into trouble again.

He adjourned proceedings until Friday, July 26, pending a pre-sentence report. Hutton was remanded in custody.