A THIEF who racked up dozens of crimes has been jailed.

Katie Hicks appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court where she admitted taking a car without consent.

She was already banned for committing a similar crime.

In total she was sentenced for 28 offences, including shoplifting, bank card fraud, possessing a knife, possessing heroin, and stealing a charity collection tin for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The 30-year-old committed crimes in Hailsham, Horsham, Eastbourne, Gatwick Airport and in Crawley.

Her most recent spate of crimes were committed in May this year. She admitted stealing £500 worth of fragrances from Boots in Horsham.

Magistrate Nicholas Letherby was told Hicks, of High Street, Polegate, has committed the offences to fund her drug habit. She was sentenced to one year in prison.