A man has dodged jail again despite stealing in Watford just two days after being sentenced for targeting the town.

Shahjahan Miah, 35, pleaded guilty on February 7 to stealing £142 worth of Hollister items on January 27 this year.

He had his suspended sentence extended but the court ruled not to jail him as it was deemed “not appropriate because [of] the exceptional circumstances of the case, namely changed location of home address, [and] probation recommended a further opportunity before activation”.

But just two days after being sentenced he stole £56 worth of clothes from a Next store in Watford.

Read more - Prolific Watford thief dodges prison after stealing again

Miah, of Bury Lane, Rickmansworth, admitted the offence on February 11 at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching an order banning him from Watford town centre as well as his suspended sentence.

He was ordered to pay £120 but the court again decided not to jail him.

Miah was instead handed a community order, with the court feeling it was “unjust” to activate his suspended sentence.

Court papers said: “The defendant “has just obtained housing, probation and CGL are both supporting a community order for the index offences and both believe that the housing will introduce significant stability to the defendant enabling agencies to engage properly (especially around the diagnosed mental health issues and other difficulties).”

In February 2019 Miah stole two bottles of perfume from Boots while banned from the premises and serving a suspended sentence, for which the suspended sentence was amended.

He was also jailed for 44 weeks in November 2017 after admitting 11 counts of shoplifting from stores in Watford town centre.