A CAREER shoplifter shouted he was “going to take everything” when he barged into The 02 Shop in Bradford Forster Square clutching a pair of pliers.

Stephan Prince stole or damaged £2,839 worth of phones and tablets in the crime spree on the evening of February 15, Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday.

When staff asked the serial shop thief: “Are you going to rob us again?” Prince replied: “Yes, I’m going to take everything.”

Originally charged with a knifepoint robbery, Prince’s plea of guilty to theft with a pair of pliers was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

He also admitted two breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering the shop and an offence of dangerous driving committed three days previously.

He was jailed for a total of 12 months. Four months for dangerous driving, plus eight months for theft to run consecutively, and banned from driving for 18 months.

Prince, 30, of Rowanwood Gardens, Greengates, Bradford, had 18 previous convictions for 44 offences, including 26 thefts.

In August 2016, he was given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order barring him from entering any O2 Shop and having pliers and wire cutters in a public place.

Prosecutor Conor Quinn said Prince sped away from the police in a red Hyundai at 8.10pm on February 12.

In a three-minute chase from Harrogate Road, Bradford, to Roundwood Glen, he reached speeds of up to 70mph, jumping a red light before crashing into a garden fence.

Three days later, while on bail, Prince struck at the phone shop.

He used the pliers to grab phones and tablets by severing the security cables, Mr Quinn said.

Prince’s barrister, Ayesha Smart, said he barged into shops to steal things.

He maintained the police chase did not exceed 50mph.

Miss Smart said that Prince was the father of a young son and very keen to change his ways and be a good parent.

He relied on shoplifting as “a quick fix” to provide for his family.

Prince had a job lined up in a factory when he was released from prison.

He was a carer for his poorly mother and had been held in custody for two months.

Judge Colin Burn said it was a “brazen” offence of shop theft.

Prince stuffed phones and tablets into a bag in front of the staff, who did not intervene because he was armed with the pliers.

“It was the closest possible thing to a robbery,” Judge Burn said.