A 'brazen' shoplifter has been sentenced after he was caught trying to steal a Lay-Z Spa from B&Q in Crewe.

Carl Proctor, from Stoke-on-Trent, is now barred from entering every B&Q store in Cheshire and has been handed a community order.

The 41-year-old entered B&Q on 11 August and set off the fire alarm as he tried to leave through a side door with a Lay-Z Spa hot tub in his trolley. He was challenged by security and the hot tub, three outdoor lights and a plant were recovered.

Before this, Proctor had stolen electrical items, power tools and other equipment worth around £1,800 from the same store across two visits on 22 July and 3 August.

Proctor was caught at B&Q in Crewe. (Nub News)

In addition, he entered Tesco in Hanley on 16 July and took a Sharp TV without paying.

Proctor has also been barred from entering Boots in Hanley as well as Pets at Home in Trent Vale.

Inspector, Dan Welch, said: "Proctor was brazen in his attempts to steal from the stores in Crewe and Hanley, taking thousands of pounds worth of goods.

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"Thanks to the security guard and staff, and local officers' knowledge in both Cheshire and Staffordshire, we were able to put a stop to his offending and bring him before the courts.

"We are pleased that while he didn't get a custodial sentence, we were able to secure a Criminal Behaviour Order to protect businesses and their staff from his prolific offending."

Proctor pleaded guilty to four counts of theft from a shop and one of assaulting a security guard back in August.

If he breaches the order banning him from the shops, he may face jail.