A serial thief from Newport has been prohibited from entering all Tesco and Spar stores in the area after stealing more than £900 worth of goods during his latest run of criminal activity.

Calum Edwards, aged 35, was handed an immediate custodial term and placed under a two-year criminal behaviour order by the city’s magistrates court.

As well as the bans on Tesco and Spar, he cannot go into the M&S Foodhall at Friars Walk shopping centre, Maesglas Retail Park, or Maesglas Industrial Estate.

The order will remain active until mid-April 2028.

Edwards, whose home address is on Fairoak Avenue in Newport, entered guilty pleas to 16 counts of theft.

The stolen goods included chocolate worth £51 taken from Tesco on February 18, coffee and steaks to the value of £32.29 taken from Spar on March 3, meat worth £21 taken from Spar on March 10, chocolate worth £48 taken from Tesco on March 15, food and washing products to the value of £57.80 taken from Tesco on March 17, coffee and chocolate to the value of £38 taken from B&M on March 25, chocolate worth £100 taken from Tesco on March 31, washing products worth £100 taken from Tesco on March 31, meat to the value of £100 taken from Tesco on April 4, chocolate worth £150 taken from Tesco on April 5, steaks and washing products to the value of £31.50 taken from Tesco on April 5, steaks worth £50 taken from Tesco on April 6, steaks worth £40 taken from Tesco on April 11, steaks to the value of £66 taken from Tesco on April 12, steaks worth £40 taken from Tesco on April 13, and steaks of an unspecified value taken from Tesco on April 14.

He received an 18-week prison sentence and was instructed to pay compensation once he is released from custody.

Edwards has prior offences. He completed a six-month prison sentence in December 2025 for comparable criminal behaviour.