STEALING L.O.L. toys from a town centre children's store proved to be no laughing matter for one thief.

Carlos do Poco has been jailed for 20 weeks after admitting to stealing 24 of the L.O.L-branded items from The Entertainer toy shop.

The 47-year-old, of no fixed address, also pleaded guilty to possession of a lock knife and stealing a bike and helmet together worth £380 from railings near Regent Circus car park. The bike's owner returned from a night shift on September 8 to find it gone.

Poco was Wiltshire Police's top suspect for both thefts after he was caught on CCTV inside The Entertainer.

When officers tracked him down to Queen's Drive he was searched and found with a lock knife in his bag.

Swindon magistrates sentenced Poco to 20 weeks imprisonment. He must pay £380 compensation and £115 victim surcharge.

Following the case, Wiltshire Police's town centre coordinator PC Paul Bezzant said: "This man is a prolific offender and this case shows the real possibility of a prison sentence for having a knife in your possession. It doesn't matter if you don’t use it we will still take action against anyone carrying a knife or weapon.

"Bike theft is a concern for us and we understand its not just the financial aspect but also the bike can often be a victim's only mode of transport, as in this case. The victim relied on his bike to get to and from work and was a keen cyclist in his leisure time."

Poco was last before the courts in August for stealing DVDs.