A NORTHWICH man with an 'appalling record of offending' has been jailed after stealing more than £1,800 of gardening and DIY equipment.

Matthew Tyrer, of Beswicks Road, appeared at Crewe Magistrates Court on November 6 to face sentencing on six charges.

The court heard the 50-year-old first stole £1,800 worth of gardening equipment on September 24 earlier this year.

On this day he also took a VW Panel van without the owner's consent and drove it while disqualified from holding a licence.

Then, about a month later on October 23, Tyrer raided three garden sheds on neighbouring streets in Winnington - Buttercup Crescent, Sunflower Way and Rosemary Drive.

Coming away empty-handed from the shed in Sunflower Way, Tyrer made off with a £20 DeWalt drill bit set from Rosemary Drive and a bag of wellies from Buttercup Crescent.

Tyrer was subsequently charged with theft from a motor vehicles, driving while disqualified, driving a vehicle taken without the owner's consent, two counts of burglary, and one charge of attempted burglary.

Taking his guilty pleas into account, the magistrates in Crewe jailed Tyrer for 16 weeks due to the seriousness of the offences, which were committed while on licence, and because of his 'appalling record of offending'.

The bench also disqualified Tyrer from driving for a further six months and 28 days.