A “prolific” thief was jailed for four weeks after he admitted stealing four coats from a Rhyl store and had a 16 weeks suspended term activated, to run consecutively, by a special court yesterday.

Kelvin McKeown, aged 40, on benefits, who gave his address as Cwrt Dowell, Prestatyn, had been seen running off with four mustard-coloured coats from the women’s section at Peacocks. They were recovered after an eyewitness called police, prosecutor Sarah Marsh said.

Nia Dawson, defending, told magistrates at Llandudno that McKeown had no memory of the theft after drinking alcohol.

Court chairman Gordon Browne said the defendant was a prolific offender with 72 similar offences on his record. “You have shown a complete disregard to complying with court orders. The business community are impacted by your offending,” he told McKeown.