Lonergan pleaded guilty to stealing meat worth £139.26 from Marks and Spencers on August 17 when he appeared at Hastings Magistrates Court on January 25. He was sentenced to seven days in prison and ordered to pay £69.53 in compensation. Magistrates said the reason for the custodial sentence was because the number and nature of previous offences showed he was operating as a professional criminal. See also: Woman banned from keeping animals after causing unnecessary suffering to a dog See also: Eastbourne shoplifter stole thousands of pounds worth of items