A man from Devizes has been fined for carrying out a very specific offence.

Mathew Alexander Howell, of Rendells Court, has been caught repeatedly stealing batteries from the same Poundland store on Maryport St, in Devizes.

Howell has stolen £140 worth of the product altogether, carrying out the offences on three separate occasions.

The first offence took place on 30 April this year, when he stole £25 worth, and South-East Wiltshire Magistrates' Court ordered him to pay a compensation fee of £25.

On 2 May this year, he then stole batteries worth £40 and was fined a compensation fee of £45.

Just one day later on 3 May this year, Howell also proceeded to steal £60 worth of batteries and was not issued with a separate penalty.

He was found guilty of breaching sections 1(1) and 7 of the Theft Act 1968, and he recently faced court on 20 May.

The court said that Howell's guilty plea was taken into consideration when he was given his sentence.

In the past, the 30-year-old has also been found guilty of other thefts in the town.

This has included stealing alcohol, beauty products and lamb joints from Sainsbury’s, all on separate occasions, as well as stealing meat from Marks and Spencer’s.