Pictured: Serial thief who snatched DUMMIES from baby's mouths in spate of attacks in Essex jailed for 14 months after police were tipped off to his identity

A serial thief who assaulted a child and snatched dummies from the mouths of children on four separate occasions has been jailed after police tracked him down and revealed his identity.

Depraved Josh Guilder, 23, staged a 7-month reign of terror in Harlow last year which saw him mount a series of baffling raids on children and their parents.

Guilder, would approach his targets and make off with their pacifiers, on several occasions, lifting the objects from the child’s mouths.

On one shocking occasion, he also assaulted a child and for his sordid crimes, was sentenced to 14-months in prison.

Previous court hearings were told that Guilder had ‘never been weaned from dummies’.

In one hearing, the court was told: ‘This is a man who has targeted lonely women, on occasions making concerning comments to them before reaching into the prams and removing dummies from [children’s] mouths.’

Depraved Josh Guilder, 23, staged a 7-month reign of terror in Harlow last year which saw him mount a series of baffling raids on children and their parents

Eventually, Guilder was tracked down after CCTV captured him leaving the scene of one of his grubby heists

They said Guilder had ‘deliberately targeted’ youngsters, adding: ‘You can’t get more vulnerable than a baby.’

He first struck on February 10 last year and continued operating until August 7.

In this time, police were unable to identify Guilder as the culprit and were forced to conduct reassurance patrols in the Staple Tye Shopping Centre – a favourite haunt of the thief.

Eventually, Guilder was tracked down after CCTV captured him leaving the scene of one of his grubby heists.

He was arrested on 15 August and charged with five counts of theft, three counts of common assault, and a public order offence.

He was convicted of all the offences at Colchester Magistrates’ Court in November and sentenced to a total of a year and two months in prison.

District Commander for Harlow, Chief Inspector Paul Austin, said: ‘I know these incidents caused concern in our community and I’m pleased we’ve been able to identify the person responsible and hold him accountable.

‘It can never be acceptable that people in Harlow feel concerned about going about their daily lives or with their children and my officers have worked hard to get this result.

‘I want to thank the community for their support in our investigation. We are committed to keeping you safe and ensuring you feel safe.’