A PROLIFIC offender has been jailed for seven years for a burglary and a knife-point robbery spree where he stole frozen chicken and champagne .

Richard Lawson, 46, of Sydervelt Road, Canvey, has what the judge described as “an appalling record” of previous convictions after battling drug and alcohol problems for decades.

His latest crime spree included six offences ranging from a burglary to knife-point robbery.

On July 20, this year, Lawson saw an open window while in Collindale Avenue, Canvey.

The victim had gone to bed and woke at about midnight, thinking she had heard a noise but assumed it was the neighbours and went back to sleep.

Lawson climbed in and stole a phone, a tablet, £480 in cash, a driving licence and bank cards.

Prosecuting, Chris Saad said: “The offence has affected the victim. She is anxious all the time and has not been sleeping for fear of someone breaking in.”

He was also charged with fraud as he used the card to make several purchases totalling £160.78.

On July 31, Lawson entered the Co-op in London Road, Hadleigh, and began to conceal several jars of coffee in his jacket.

Mr Saad said: “He told the member of staff “you won’t like what I’ve got in my pocket.

“’I will gut you - you better move out of the way”.”

He then left the shop with the coffee, totalling a value of £30.

At 10am on August 7, Lawson targeted Iceland in Hadleigh where he picked up three frozen chickens and hid them in a bag.

Staff confronted him and he produced a kitchen knife with a blade of 4 inches before fleeing the shop.

Mr Saad read the victim impact statement of a staff member to the court which said: “This has affected me and my team. I struggle to go to work. It’s made me realise I could come and have a knife pulled on me again.”

Twenty minutes later, Lawson went to the BP garage nearby where he selected four bottles of champagne and tried to leave the store.

This time, when he was confronted, he grabbed the staff member and produced the knife again before leaving the shop.

The team member’s victim impact statement said: “Since going back to work I’ve been anxious and stressed. I’ve been shaking and have frozen when confronting other shoplifters.”

Lawson, who appeared via video link from Chelmsford prison, was also charged with possession of a knife in a public place and breach of a community order.

Sentencing him at Basildon Crown Court yesterday afternoon, Judge David Owen-Jones said: “You have an appalling record.

“It seems to me the time has now come that the only way of dealing with you is a fairly substantial prison sentence.”

He was given a total of seven years and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.