A THIEF who stole a number of electrical items from his lodger neighbour has been convicted.

Prolific criminal Kevin Hardman, of no fixed abode, had denied burglary and theft alleged to have taken place while he was a lodger at an Oxford house in May last year.

Jurors at Oxford Crown Court took two hours and 51 minutes to unanimously find the 45-year old guilty of two counts of theft but not guilty to a count of burglary and another of theft.

During the trial the court heard that Hardman, who already has 134 convictions to his name, had been staying at the Oxford home before stealing a number of items from a fellow lodger also living there.

He took an i-Phone and laptop but jurors rejected the argument that he had taken an iPod and later pawned it at a U-Play exchange shop on Cowley Road.

After the thefts had been reported, jurors were told, Hardman was arrested and during his police interview he claimed that the items had been given to him as 'gifts' by his victim.

After the verdict had been handed down at court yesterday his defence barrister John Bryant asked to adjourn sentencing for the preparation of a report to explore all sentencing options.

Presiding Judge Zoe Smith agreed to adjourn the case and he was bailed to re-appear at the same court for sentencing on March 14.