A ONE-man Black Country crime wave stole wheel trims from more than 200 parked cars in Dudley and Stourbridge.

Stuart Jones, who had never done a day's work in his life, advertised and sold the trims on ebay and used the £3,000 he pocketed to feed his partner and their three children.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Jones had a long criminal record before he was jailed for 30 months.

Judge Nicholas Webb told the 36-year-old: "You are an inveterate thief. There are 98 court appearances and 330 offences recorded against you. In this case you were caught red-handed."

The judge said Jones, who was the subject of an anti-social behaviour order, had been stopped by police just 36 hours after being given a community order by a court in Wales for burglary and handling stolen property.

Cops found tools inside the vehicle together with 92 wheel trims and when his home was searched a further 108 wheel trims were recovered.

When questioned Jones said he was in business buying and selling wheel trims adding that he was responsible for the theft of around 120 sets of trims he had taken from cars.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said Jones' previous convictions included 51 thefts, 18 burglaries, the taking of 16 cars together with many other offences.

Abigail Nixon, for Jones, accepted he had an "appalling" record adding: "He has never had a job. He has always committed crimes to feed his family. He was after money to take into the family home."

She added Jones had just found employment with a Car Body shop in Dudley and was now motivated to change his ways.

Miss Nixon said: "He maintains he has had enough and he wants to make a fresh start. He wants to bring his offending to a halt. He has finally grown up and he has woken up."

Jones, of Victoria Road, Tipton, admitted breaching his ASBO, eight charges of stealing wheel trims, going equipped for theft, criminal damage and he asked for 70 other theft offences to be taken into consideration.