Shoplifters hauled in front of Sussex courts are more likely to be sent to jail than elsewhere in England and Wales.

Latest figures reveal 405 of the county's 1,688 convicted store thieves - 24 per cent - were placed behind bars. Nationally 16,629 shoplifters were jailed immediately - 21 per cent of the 79,832 offenders.

Sixteen per cent of women caught in Sussex were imprisoned - 60 of 371 offenders. Across England and Wales, the figure was 14 per cent.

Twenty-six per cent - 345 of 1,317 - of convicted male shoplifters were jailed. Nationally, the figure was 23 per cent.

The Home Office statistics from 2002, the last year available, were uncovered by Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten.

He branded the prison sentences "pointless" and said it cost about £750 to keep each shoplifter jailed for seven days.

Mr Oaten said: "Most people would agree shoplifters are pathetic rather than dangerous, more often than not addicted to drugs or alcohol or in massive financial difficulties.

"Many are teenagers taking risks rather than hardened criminals. The Government needs to justify why so much money is being spent jailing petty thieves when there are better ways to deal with them."

Mr Oaten estimated the Home Office could save £60 million a year by freeing some prisoners - savings which could be spent on shop security such as CCTV cameras, security tags and metal shutters for doors and windows.

A Home Office spokesman denied shoplifters were being jailed unnecessarily.

He said: "We have made clear there are alternatives to prison and it should be used for people who are dangerous, violent or sex offenders or serious persistent offenders."

Magistrates had been told to impose more fines, community sentences and drug treatment programmes.