A homeless man banned from all places of worship in Oxford has been jailed after once again stealing from a city church.

Richard Mitchell, of no fixed address, broke an order banning him from all churches just ten days after it was imposed and has been jailed for six months.

Mitchell entered St Aloysius Church in Woodstock Road last Thursday and stole rosary beads from the church shop and was subsequently arrested and charged by police.

The following day he pleaded guilty to breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order and was  given a six-month prison sentence at Oxford Crown Court.

In June Mitchell fell asleep under the pews at St Mary Magdalen Church in Oxford after stealing from the collection box. 

After being confronted by a church-goer in the morning he was arrested by police and later admitted two counts of theft and three counts of assaulting a police officer in court.

In October, shortly before the order banning him from all city churches he was charged with one count of burglary after breaking into St Peter and St Paul Church in West Way.

Investigating officer, PC Hannah Cormack, of Oxford Local CID, said: “The defendant is a prolific offender in a number of cases relating to thefts from churches, which led to him being given a Criminal Behaviour Order.

“He breached this order within 10 days of being given it, so I am pleased that he is now off the streets of Oxford and hope that his custodial sentence serves as a warning to him and others who are given these orders.”