A ‘prolific’ Blaenau Ffestiniog thief who was the subject of a police manhunt has been handed a suspended jail sentence by magistrates.

Cameron Jennings-Williams, whose address was given in court as c/o Graianfryn, Manod Road, appeared before Caernarfon Magistrates’ Court on 30 September charged with six counts of stealing from shops in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog in late July and early August.

In August, North Wales Police released Jennings-Williams’ to the public to help track down the 24-year-old as he was “wanted in connection with ongoing shoplifting investigations in Blaenau Ffestiniog.”

Arrested by police officers, Jennings-Williams was charged with six thefts – five in Blaenau Ffestiniog and one in Porthmadog – between 26 July and 13 August this year.

Jennings-Williams pleaded guilty at the hearing to stealing eight Buzzball cocktails from the Morrison’s store in Blaenau Ffestiniog on 26 July.

He also admitted stealing two bottles of vodka worth £51 from the Co-op store in Blaenau Ffestiniog on the following day, 27 July.

Jennings-Williams also admitted returning to the Morrison’s store in Blaenau Ffestiniog on 29 July and stealing eight cans of coke, while also returning to the Co-op store on the same day and stealing another five bottles of vodka worth £127.50.

Jennings-Williams also pleaded guilty to stealing two cases of lager from the Londis store in Blaenau Ffestiniog on 10 August, and another two cases of lager from Lidl in Porthmadog on 13 August.

Magistrates handed Jennings-Williams an eight week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Magistrates said that the offences are “so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified” because Jennings-Williams has a previous record of “prolific thefts from various stores”.

Jennings-Williams must also pay costs of £85 as well as a surcharge of £154.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £273.25 in compensation to the stores.