A man who repeatedly stole cash, wallets and coats from first class carriages in King’s Cross station has been jailed.

Anthony Hinton, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for boarding trains before they departed and taking valuables – including bags and clothing on luggage racks – belonging to distracted passengers, many of whom did not notice the theft until reaching their destination.

Items the 48-year-old stole between September and October this year include a Hugo Boss jacket worth £350 and a bag costing £215.

Det Con Kirsty Boggi, who investigated the thefts, said: “Hinton boarded trains at some of London’s busiest train stations and each time, went straight to the first class carriage of a train and took bags and coats while people weren’t looking.”

She added: “This was an offence he committed a number of times and so I am pleased he is now behind bars and prevented from doing this again.”

Hinton, who also targeted Paddington station, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday.

When he is released, he will be liable to arrest if found in King’s Cross, Paddington or any railway station first class area.