A former Littleport man who was jailed for 16 months as recently as July 2015 for robbing a 73 year-old man, is back behind bars after admitting a spate of charity box thefts across Cambridge.

Jordan Earwaker, 25, of Ross Street, Cambridge, was arrested last Wednesday after being identified as being responsible for the theft of a charity donation box from the Empress Public House on Christmas Eve.

He was subsequently charged with five counts of theft from a shop, one count of receiving stolen goods and one count of theft, broken down as follows:

•Theft of two drones and a charity donation box from Maplins on December 3

•Theft of a charity donation box from Sainsbury’s on December 17

•Theft of a charity donation box from The Empress Public House on December 24

•Theft of a charity donation box from the Co-op on December 27

•Theft of a toothbrush worth £85 from Sainsbury’s on December 27

•Theft of perfume worth £179 from John Lewis on December 28

•Receiving stolen goods, namely an iPad, laptop and clothing, on January 8

He appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to all charges.

He was sentenced on the same day to a total of 52 weeks in prison.

In 2015 Earwaker admitted pushing a man of 73 to the ground near The Barn car park in Littleport before trying to rob him.

Earwaker had followed the victim from the Barclays bank cash point where he had withdrawn some money before pushing him over from behind.

He then put his hand in the man’s trouser pocket whilst he was on the ground.

The victim fought back hitting Earwaker over the head with a plastic milk bottle he was carrying. As a result Earwaker ran off into the car park and out of site.

However he was identified using CCTV in the area and later arrested.