A PROLIFIC thief crashed into a tree after taking cocaine, a court heard.

Tomas David Lloyd, of no fixed address, was arrested in December last year after the car he had taken from a home in Bishopdown left the road and hit a tree.

Earlier this year, Lloyd also raided two convenience stores in Romsey and Andover.

Last week, he was jailed for a string of offences including robbery, theft and aggravated vehicle taking.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Lloyd lunged across the counter at the Co-op store in Botley Road, Romsey.

The 29-year-old snatched a wad of £5 notes however, the cashier jammed his hand in the till.

Prosecution barrister, Tom Wilkins told how Lloyd had asked to buy the cheapest lighter and put down two 20p coins.

And when the till opened, he leaned over and tried to grab money.

Despite a struggle with the cashier, he was able to keep “a couple of notes”.

Mr Wilkins added that just the day before, Lloyd had used the “same manoeuvre” at a Tesco Express in Weyhill Road, Andover.

He said: “When the cashier opened the till he reached forward and grabs money out of the cash box.”

The offences happened on March 15 and 16 this year.

However, on December 20 last year, members of the public “came upon the defendant after he had been in an accident” on the Romsey Road A3057 near the B3084.

The Nissan QASHQAI he had been driving had left the road and hit a tree.

Mr Wilkins said that witnesses described Lloyd as confused and dazed and “it turned out that the vehicle had been taken” from a home in Bishopdown near Salisbury.

He then banged his head against the cage in the back of the police vehicle when he was arrested.

He indicated that he had taken cocaine but refused to provide a blood sample.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Lloyd was charged with robbery, theft, aggravated vehicle taking, and driving without insurance or a licence.

He pleaded guilty to all offences.

Lloyd has 26 previous convictions for theft, with his record also including attempted robbery and GBH.

Defending, Philip Allman, argued that drug addiction was the root cause of his client’s offending.

He mentioned that Lloyd’s father had even offered him a line of cocaine after he was released from prison on a previous occasion.

Nonetheless, he argued he was now abstaining from drugs.

Judge Gary Burrell QC jailed him for two years and six months.

He was given a 24-month driving ban from when he is released.

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