A shoplifter has been jailed by Ipswich magistrates after his third conviction in just over a month.

Romanian Ionut Dragnea was only believed to have been in the country for three months when he targeted Sainsbury’s in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich, on Saturday, January 27.

The 21-year-old is understood to have entered the store with another man.

Dragnea was seen to get a hessian Bag For Life before looking around the shelves where the alcohol is kept.

His behaviour raised the suspicions of security staff, as did that of the other man who they thought might have been acting as a lookout.

Dragnea was then seen to put six bottles of alcohol in his bag.

The total value came to £175.80.

He was then seen walking out of the store without attempting to pay for the items.

Dragnea was stopped by security staff when he got outside the store.

Police arrested Dragnea at the scene after being alerted to him acting suspiciously in the shop.

The incident occurred just before 3.20pm.

The man who was thought to be with him was not detained as he had not committed any offence.

After being arrested Dragnea, of Ravensdale Road, Hounslow, was taken to the police investigation centre at Suffolk Constabulary’s Martlesham headquarters.

He was charged and appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates court where he pleaded guilty to theft of spirits from a shop.

Dragnea was given a total of 14 weeks’ imprisonment.

He received eight weeks for the shoplifting matter and a further six weeks to run concurrently for breaching a suspended sentence.

Dragnea was previously convicted of offences earlier in January and in December.

It is believed these occurred in at least one other county.