A PROLIFIC Thurrock thief is finally behind bars just weeks after being spared jail by generous magistrates.

Last month Thurrock Nub News reported on the conviction at Basildon Magistrates' Court of Martha Ernest, 41, of Davall House, Argent Street, Grays who received a 17 week suspended jail sentence term after admitting a number of thefts.

Ernest admitted three charges of stealing goods from Tesco in West Thurrock, while she was serving a previous community order imposed for other offences of theft but she was let free from court.

However, she was quickly back in action shoplifting and appeared again before the magistrates, this time at Southend, and magistrates there her down.

Ernest admitted four counts of shoplifting and two counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order

She was jailed for a total of 50 weeks and ordered to pay £405 compensation.

The court heard she had stolen from Aldi in London Road, Grays, House of Fraser at #Lakeside Shopping Centre, Farmfoods and Poundland in The Mall Grays, between October and November.