A man who stole chocolate from shops in Dartford has been given a curfew by magistrates but avoided jail.

Jamie Lee Hopkins pleaded guilty to four counts of shoplifting.

On August 11 the 33-year-old, of Browning Road, Dartford, stole chocolate worth £21 from a shop in Chastilian Road.

Then, on August 13 he stole deodorants worth £65 from a shop in The Orchards and returned on August 16 Hopkins to steal chocolate worth £70 from the same shop.

On August 23 he stole chocolate worth £100 from a shop in Henderson Drive.

Hopkins was sentenced on August 25 at Medway Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates sentenced Hopkins to 240 days in prison, suspended for a year, and gave him a three-month curfew to remain at home between 7pm and 7am daily. The curfew runs until November 24. He must also pay £226 compensation and a £115 victim surcharge.