A PROLIFIC thief has been sent to prison after admitting stealing nearly £5,000 worth of designer skin care.

Lee Rehman, of Luther Street in Oxford, began his two-month thieving spree at Boots on Cornmarket Street on October 30 last year when he carried away £296 worth of Clarins face cream.

The 36-year-old then went back into the shop the next day and stole another £210 worth of Estee Lauder creams, returning on November 6 to take three gift sets costing £326.

On November 15 he returned with a partner in crime Mark Evans.

Read more: cyclist fighting for his life in hospital after 'serious' Abingdon crash

The pair helped themselves to £2,093 worth of Clarins beauty products and gift sets on November 15, 18 and December 2.

He last targeted Boots on December 9, taking with him £655 of beauty creams, before he went to John Lewis in the Westgate Centre to continue his spree.

On November 23 he stole £1,300 of La Mer gift sets, put in the shop ahead of the Christmas rush.

Read again: Love Island winner Finn Tapp will play for Oxford City again

He then went back two days later and took a pair of designer Rayban sunglasses that cost £118.

At his sentencing at Oxford Magistrates' Court on December 13 he was sent to prison for six months, because of his repeat offending.

The court took into consideration five other offences when they were sentencing him and he was ordered to pay £500 in compensation.