A thief shouted “thanks for the watch” after stealing thousands of pounds of designer time-pieces.

Adam McDermott, 26, helped himself to Rolex and Breitling watches worth more than £19,000 in a series of snatch and run thefts from jewellery shops in Brighton and Worthing.

Lewes Crown Court was told how McDermott went into Frost's Jewellers in Montague Street, Worthing, in June and asked to look at men's watches.

He was told he could not unless he had a credit card or a wallet that could be used as security.

Anthony Cox, prosecuting told the court that while the owner was wrapping up a carriage clock, McDermott got behind the counter and took two watches worth more than £7,000.

McDermott struck again at Ernest Jones in Churchill Square, Brighton, the next day.

This time he asked to try on a Breitling Blackbird model worth £5,180.

He put it on his wrist and looked at it admiringly before saying: “Thanks for the watch.”

He then jumped up and fled from the shop with the watch still strapped to his wrist.

McDermott was arrested on June 24 but was released on police bail while the investigation into the thefts continued.

Two weeks later went into TH Bakers in Churchill Square, Brighton, and made off with a white Versace ceramic ladies watch worth £5,500.

McDermott was quickly identified as the thief after detectives checked footage from CCTV cameras in the shop.

McDermott, of Preston Road, Brighton, admitted six charges of theft and was jailed for 27 months yesterday.

Judge Guy Anthony said: “These were high value thefts involving watches worth almost £20,000 and only a substantial and immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.”