A thief responsible for a ‘detrimental’ series of thefts across the county has been jailed.

Christopher Mertha, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty of three counts of theft and one breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at Oxford Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 16).

On 21 May this year, 31-year-old Mertha stole two parcels from the doorstep of a residential property in Lawton Avenue, Carterton.

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Then, on 1 June, Mertha went into a Tesco store on Park Road, Faringdon, which his CBO prevents him from entering, and took three bottles of alcohol.

Two weeks later, on 14 June, Mertha stole an electric shaver worth £160 from Boots on High Street, Witney.

Mertha was arrested by Thames Valley Police officers on 14 June and charged the following day.

Mertha was sentenced at the court hearing on June 16  to three months in prison.

Investigating Officer, PC Ryan Dollery from the Rural Crime Taskforce said: “I would like to thank all those involved in the successful conviction of the offender, including the different teams across the force.

“Christopher Mertha committed thefts on two business and a residential property, which detrimentally impacted both the businesses and the local community.

 “I am very pleased that he has been jailed for the offences he carried out.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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