The prolific thief first struck at Boots in Ashford High Street on June 11, the day after he was handed a court order.

Prosecutor Victoria Aked told Folkestone magistrates: "A staff member saw him and knew him, and she saw he had a pair of sunglasses on the top of his head.

"She decided to check the CCTV and he had taken the sunglasses and left the store, they were worth £40."

Just nine days later Santer snatched three pairs of sunglasses worth £867 from Sunglass Hut at the Ashford Designer Outlet.

On June 28 he was back at the outlet - this time taking two pairs of Nike trainers worth £199.98.

But security guard Luke Axon spotted him wearing the new shoes and challenged him.

Ms Aked said: "He's a prolific shoplifter and has stolen on many occasions before - he refused to hand over his bag and swerved to get away from him.

"He was accosted by a security guard and goes on to assault the guard."

Police officers swooped in but Santer spat at and lunged at Mr Axon.

The prosecutor added: "He lunged for and spat at the guard, and he was pinned to the police vehicle to stop him".

The court heard Mr Axon had said in a victim impact statement that Santer's actions had disgusted him.

Santer, of St Stephens Walk, admitted three counts of shoplifting and common assault at the same court in June.

Ms Aked added: "These offences happened the day after he was given a community order, the very next day he committed the thefts.

"He was also given a conditional discharge in September, and he's in breach of that.

"He was subject to a community order, but he continued to offend because on June 11, he went shoplifting, that's what he thinks of the court system."

She added the trainers had since been returned to the store.

However, as Mr Axon had feared disease could have been transmitted she requested he was compensated accordingly.

Maggie Biglou, defending, said her client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

She added: "His offending is all to do with his drug use, that's the flavour of his previous [offences], drugs and alcohol, it's been the theme throughout.

"Alcohol has just started to take over, but he was a drug user and had a relationship with crack-cocaine, and he was stealing to fund his habit.

"He's not got a great recollection of the assault, but accepts his actions and feels disgusted.

"He didn't know where the spittle landed, but he's apologetic."

At the time of his offending, Santer had replaced illicit drug taking with daily alcohol drinking, and was claiming Universal Credit, the court heard.

Ms Biglou, added: "He's a roofer and has had other jobs.

"He's a smart man, but it's all gone to pot, he's been in and out of the prison system, and he was convicted of robbery first.

"He's now clean off the drugs but on alcohol, and is going to his GP and is looking at going on an alcohol course for 13 weeks to reduce his alcohol intake."

Magistrates said they felt the offences passed the custody threshold, but said rehabilitation in the community would help Santer stay on the straight and narrow.

As a result, they revoked the community order he was on and placed him on a new one, which will see him attend 35 rehabilitation sessions.

He was also ordered to pay Boots £40 compensation, £867 to the Sunglass Hut and £100 to Mr Axon.

Santer will pay what he owes at £20 a month and magistrates took no action on the conditional discharge breach.