A thief who menaced shops across south east London has been jailed for nine months. 

Neil Atkinson, who goes by the alias Neil Armstrong, stole over £1,400 worth of goods from shops in Deptford, Brockley, Honour Oak and Lee over the course of eight months. 

The 41-year-old targeted Sainsbury’s in Honor Oak Park, Co-ops in Deptford and Brockley and BP in Lee. 

Atkinson appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Monday (September 23) after he pleaded guilty to 25 counts of theft from shops. 

Court documents show he regularly stole alcohol, chocolate, food, drinks and cleaning products. 

On some occasions he would enter shops and steal whole trays of items, including on one visit to Sainsbury's where he stole 15 cans of Red Bull and three trays of pre-mixed cocktails. 

Atkinson, of Tressillian Crescent in Lewisham, was jailed for 38 weeks.