Magistrates encountered a familiar face when they jailed a prolific thief for targeting shops in Watford again.

Shahjahan Miah, 37, had been charged with three separate thefts of cleaning products from High Street's B&M between May 18 and May 22.

He was also accused of breaching a Community Protection Notice (CPN) four times – three of them during the thefts and another when spotted by officers in town.

Miah, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six weeks and ordered to pay B&M compensation.

Watford Observer: Shahjahan MiahShahjahan Miah (Image: Herts Police)

It comes after he was given 12 weeks’ prison last October for stealing Christmas presents, having also spent time behind bars in August 2022.

In February 2022 he managed to avoid jail despite stealing in the town just two days after being sentenced for taking £56 worth of clothes from Watford’s Next.

Miah has been in and out of prison since November 2017, when he was given 44 weeks for 11 shoplifting crimes.

Sergeant Brad Cross from the Watford Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We understand the impact theft has on businesses and we work closely with all shops in the town centre along with the Watford BID to ensure security staff and other members of staff know what to do if they suspect someone is stealing from the shop.

“This type of behaviour has no place in Watford, and we will continue to crack down on these types of crimes.” 

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