Steven Wastell was last jailed for 10 months in September by South Tyneside magistrates for a two-day crime spree.

Wastell, of South Shields, is now serving a six-month jail sentence after breaching an Asbo four times and continuing to steal.

He was banned from Newcastle for four years by magistrates there on the day of his release from prison, January 23, but flouted that order just over a week later.

The 26-year-old repeatedly stole from women to fund his drug habit, often striking in cafés and restaurants after his victims left their handbags on the floor.

He was banned from Newcastle city centre until January 22, 2012, except to attend a pre-arranged professional appointment, or as part of a journey elsewhere.

Wastell broke his exclusion order twice within days by entering the city on January 31 and again on February 1.

Then, on February 17, he was arrested after he stole a purse from a customer in Caffé Nero, in Clayton Street.

Newcastle magistrates sentenced him to six months in jail for the theft and breach of the Asbo.

After Wastell is released from prison, his Asbo will continue.
Grateful

Sergeant Claire Lawson, of Newcastle police, said: "I'm grateful to the magistrates for fully appreciating the seriousness of Steven Wastell's offending and especially his failure to comply with his Asbo.

"Wastell is a habitual thief whose only reason for visiting the city centre is to watch and wait for any opportunity to steal.

"At the end of his sentence, because the Asbo will still be active, the police will be working with Safe Newcastle to ensure every café and restaurant worker knows who he is and what he does, so we can deter him from stealing in the city centre ever again.

"Thankfully, thieves of Wastell's calibre are relatively rare, but I would urge city centre visitors not to be complacent about the safety of their valuables.

"While the police, community support officers and security staff work together throughout the city, and are constantly on the lookout for criminal activity, we would ask everyone to play their part by keeping their purses and mobile phones safe and out of reach."

Last September, South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard eight women had items stolen from town centre cafés in a two-day crime spree.

One 84-year-old victim had a £1,500 hearing aid in her bag when Wastell took it as she had lunch in a café in King Street.

It was recovered by police after a search nearby.

Wastell admitted two counts of theft, and six other thefts were taken into consideration.

He was jailed for five months for each count of theft, to run consecutively.