A prolific shoplifter has struck again - targeting a Tesco Express three times in the space of a week.

A court heard how "nothing seems to work" in deterring Steven Harden from stealing goods to sell on and fund his cocaine addiction.

The 40-year-old also took two hair dryers from a Boots store in Ashford and laundry pods from B&M.

Harden, of no fixed address, admitted five counts of shoplifting and one of failing to comply with a drug test when he appeared before magistrates in Folkestone on September 3.

Victoria Aked, prosecuting, said he targeted Tesco Express in Mill Court on July 19, 21 and 24, stealing food, beer and protein products valued at £89, £5.75 and £9.

She told the court: "Then on August 20, he went to the Boots store and stole two Babyliss hair dryers and ran out of the store. They were valued at £97.50.

"Then on September 2, he was in the B&M store and took laundry items valued at £51.94.

"When he was arrested, he failed to comply with a drug test."

Magistrates were also told Harden was last in court in May, July and August for committing other shoplifting offences.

Due to his repeat offending, he had previously been given conditional discharges, community orders, suspended sentences and even prison time, but continued to offend.

The prosecutor added: "Nothing seems to work. He keeps going to steal items and targets the same store in quick succession."

Steve Tarleton, defending, told the court some of the offences pre-dated Harden's August 6 court appearance and should have been dealt with then.

The lawyer added: "He's got an addiction to cocaine and has reduced his consumption from every day to two or three times a week, but he's still committing offences to raise money to buy drugs.

"You could revoke the community order he's on and put him on a new one with some requirements of drug rehabilitation and rehabilitation sessions."

Magistrates agreed the offences committed before his last court appearance in August should have been dealt with at the time and ordered he just pay compensation of £103.75 back to Tesco for those offences.

They then revoked the current community order he's on for the other two shoplifting offences and placed him on a new 18-month order, which will see him complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Harden must also attend 15 rehabilitation sessions and pay Boots £97.50 in compensation and B&M £51.94 in compensation.

He received no separate penalty for failing to comply with the drug test.

He will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £20 a month as he is on Universal Credit.