PROLIFIC offenders like a Newport man with 277 convictions need to be "rehabilitated as well as punished".

Former magistrate William Graham AM said repeat criminals like Andrew John Paul Davies - who this week was dubbed "Gwent's most prolific offender" - could benefit from help offered in prison.

Mr Graham, Conservative AM for South East Wales, said Davies needed to be locked up but added he also needed to be rehabilitated.

He said: "Community punishment is not suitable for a persistent offender so it must be a case of custody on the grounds of public safety.

"But we shouldn't be looking necessarily for punishment, what we need to be looking at is rehabilitation."

Mr Graham said: "The good thing about him going to prison is that he will be put on a drug treatment programme whether he likes it or not. And if he has psychological problems they will be treated best in prison."

He said the probation service did a "wonderful job" in providing support to offenders.

Mr Graham said: "They need to identify what this chap's problem is and this can be done while he is serving his sentence. "

Davies has been in and out of prison since he was 15, and was last jailed for 16 weeks last December.

Gwent Probation said any comment would not be appropriate until after Davies' sentencing.

Davies, 26, of Bideford Road, Maesglas, was banned from entering Newport city centre for two years under the terms of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order imposed in June 2005.

He was back in court - for his 98th separate case - on Tuesday to admit breaching the ASBO after burgling the HMV store just weeks later in August 2005.

Prosecutor Craig Bond told Newport magistrates Davies was "probably Gwent's most prolific offender".

He pleaded guilty to the burglary of the Peacocks store in Maindee, shoplifting at Next and at the Spar shop in Clytha Park Road.

Before he was remanded in custody and committed to the crown court for sentence, Davies told magistrates he suffered with a drug problem.