A CROOK stole a laptop from a police car and tried to flee.

Alabaster Clinton Samuel took the Toshiba laptop from a police car in Clacton.

But he was found hours later by officers because the car was fitted with CCTV and he had been recognised.

Samuel, of no fixed abode, also admitted stealing Christmas presents from a Clacton home.

The laptop and all-but-one present were recovered.

During a hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday, the 23-year-old also admitted two counts of using threatening and abusive behaviour to two people who became annoyed with him because he was urinating on their property.

He also admitted having a small amount of cannabis with him when he was arrested.

All the offences took place between December 9 and December 13.

Magistrates sentenced Samuel to four weeks in prison for the two theft charges, to run concurrently.

He was also handed another fours weeks in prison for each public order county, to run concurrently.

There was no separate penalty for the cannabis-related charge.

He was also ordered to pay £10 compensation for the present which was not recovered and must also pay a £115 victim surcharge.