Shane Hodson resorted to stealing from supermarkets to raise money after finding himself homeless last summer.
First he struck at Sainsbury’s in Biggleswade on August 2 last year, taking six bottles of Prosecco off the shelves, cutting free the security tags and concealing them about his clothing.
He and the woman he was with managed to leave the shop, but staff were suspicious and noted the registration number of the car they got into.
As a result police stopped the vehicle three days later and Hudson was arrested.
Then on August 13, Hodson was in the Aldi store in Biggleswade when he picked up back pack and began filling it with stolen items from the shelves.
This time 39-year-old Hodson was challenged and in his haste to get away dropped his mobile phone.
Luton Crown Court heard on Friday, March 26, he cheekily changed his clothes and returned to the store 15 minutes later and asked for it back.
Staff were having none of it and after being told police were on their way, Hudson legged it once more.
On January 30, this year Hodson was in a Tesco store in Stevenage where once more he stole bottles of alcohol worth £89 concealing them down his trousers.
Staff challenged him as he left the store and the court was told at that point he became obstructive, telling security workers he had Covid-19.
He remained at the store and was arrested.
He should have appeared in court at Stevenage in March of this year, but failed to show up, committing a bail act offence.
On Friday Hodson of Poplar Close, Sandy, Beds appeared for sentence at Luton crown court after admitting the three theft offences and failing to appear in court.
His offending meant that he was also in breach of a nine month prison sentence suspended for 18 months handed out to him at Luton Crown Court in February of last year for burglary matters.
Miss Jessica Peck defending said Hodson had complied with the terms of his suspended sentence by staying out of trouble, but after losing his accommodation last summer had committed the offences out of ”financial desperation.”
Recorder Patrick Fields sentenced Hodson to a total 10 months in custody and told him he will serve half that time behind bars before he is released on licence.
