A MAN, described by police as a 'prolific offender', from Newquay was sentenced to jail after he stole a mobile phone.

Steven Howard, aged 38, of Ivydale Guest House, Newquay, appeared before East Cornwall Magistrates on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a theft on the previous day when he stole the device - worth approximately £250.

The offence was committed when Howard entered a neighbour's apartment at Ivydale Guest House and was seen to pick up the neighbour's phone, place it in his pocket and, despite the victim's protests, left the apartment with the phone.

He was arrested by Newquay police shortly after the theft.

A police spokesman said: "Steven Howard, who is a prolific offender, was sentenced to 84 days imprisonment for the theft.

"He was also re-sentenced for 42 days consecutively in respect of an existing 12 month community order given to Howard on August 6 2009 after he was involved in an offence involving heroin, committed in Newquay on August 4 2009."