A THIEF has been jailed for 18 weeks after he stole from two Winchester shops and assaulted a woman.

Jordan James Bell, of Paternoster Row, Winchester, was arrested on Monday after perfume was stolen from Boots on the High Street. Kerrie Black, 30, who works in the store, was assaulted during the incident.

After leaving the store, Bell was seen to get into a nearby vehicle. The car was later stopped by police and the stolen perfume, valued at £379, was found inside.

Bell, 23, was arrested and charged with shoplifting and common assault and appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to the theft from Boots, another theft from Tesco, on Andover Road, on January 31, where goods worth £35 were stolen.

He also admitted to assaulting a 23-year-old man, Tobias Williams, in the same store on November 16, last year, and was jailed for 18 weeks.

After officers stopped the car Bell was in on the Monday two other men were also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

A 21-year-old man from Winchester and a 22-year-old man from Bishopstoke have been released from custody but remain under investigation.

Bell was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to Ms Black.