A PROLIFIC thief who stole from churches in Westcliff and Leigh has been jailed for three years.

Unemployed Carl Weighman, 30, of Crowstone Avenue, Westcliff, took car keys from an unsuspecting churchwarden at St Margaret’s Church, in Lime Avenue, Leigh, then drove off in his car.

He followed this by breaking into St Michael’s and All Angels Church, in Mount Avenue, Westcliff, before helping himself to 42ins £400 flat-screen TV.

The court also heard Weighman had 22 previous convictions for burglaries dating back to 1998.

Judge David Owen-Jones told him: “You have an absolutely appalling record for dishonesty.”