A SERIAL thief has been jailed after being caught stealing from his place of work - for the fifth time in five different jobs.

Adrian James carried out the offences at five different places of work, the latest being Barry Island cafe Cadwaladers.

In February 2015 the 37-year-old, had been working at Cadwaladers for just over a year when he was given a talking to about his work performance by his manager.

Unhappy with the conversation, James handed in his resignation the next day.

Later that month it was noted that £3,987 had gone missing from the safe.

After several attempts were made to contact James, the police were called and when he was arrested he admitted taking the money - claiming at first that he had taken it and paid it into a bank account because the safe was faulty.

"This later proved not to be true," prosecutor Daniel Pugh told Newport Crown Court on Friday, May 6.

The court then heard that James, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, had eight previous convictions for 15 offences including four for stealing from his place of work.

In 2001 the resident of Bowls Terrace, Caerphilly was convicted after it was discovered that he had been placing bets in the betting shop he worked for after the start of horse races, when the winner was already assured. Then in 2008 he was caught stealing £5424 from the Nisa local store he was employed by.

In 2012, he was found to have stolen £13,935 worth of alcohol and cigarettes from the Londis store he was working for. Then, later that same year, he was found to have stolen money from the Poundstretcher store he was employed by, receiving an eight month prison sentence.

Defending James, Lawrence Jones told the court that he had been asked by his client to hand in a letter informing the judge that he had received a new job offer last month.

When judge Daniel Williams asked Mr Jones whether the defendant had informed his prospective new employers about his record, Mr Jones said: "He told me 'they didn't ask'."

Making reference to James' "appalling record", Judge Daniel Williams sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment, of which he will serve half in custody.