"No one is exempt from paying for their shopping" - prolific shoplifter jailed for 16 months for thefts across the Portsmouth area
Two prolific shoplifters have pled guilty to numerous thefts in the Portsmouth area with one man jailed for 16 months.
Michael Brain, 45, of no fixed abode in Portsmouth pled guilty to 16 theft from shop offences, which took place across the region. He appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Friday, January 9 where he was sentenced to 16 months in Prison.
He pled guilty to the following offences:
- Sunday, October 5 – Theft of £175.25 worth of items from the Co-Op on Middle Park Way in Havant.
- Tuesday, October 7– Theft of £200 worth of chocolate from Tesco on North Street in Emsworth.
- Tuesday, October 7– Theft of £94.25 worth of meat and cheese from the Co-Op on Delling Lane in Chichester.
- Sunday, October 12 – Theft of £165.90 worth of coffee and chocolate from the Co-Op on Winter Road in Southsea.
- Monday, October 13– Theft of £69.93 worth of Yankee Candles from Farm Foods on London Road in Waterlooville.
- Thursday, October 16 – Theft of £136.38 worth of household goods from Farm Foods on London Road in Waterlooville.
- Friday, October 17– Theft of £89.91 worth of Yankee Candles from Farm Foods on London Road in Waterlooville.
- Friday, October 17– Theft of £97.60 worth of chilled items, crisps and milkshakes from the Co-Op on Devonshire Square in Southsea.
- Saturday, October 18 – Theft of £79.92 worth of Yankee Candles from the Farm Foods on London Road in Waterlooville.
- Saturday, October 18 – Theft of £9.25 worth of cakes, chocolate and crisps from the Co-Op on Devonshire Square in Southsea.
- Monday, October 20 – Theft of £35 worth of chocolate from the Co-Op on Delling Lane in Chichester.
- Monday, October 20 – Theft of £250 worth of chocolate and confectionary from Tesco on Grassmere Way in Waterlooville
- Monday, October 20– Theft of £133 worth of coffee from the Co-Op on Station Road in Drayton.
- Tuesday, October 21– Theft of £200 worth of chocolate from Tesco on North Street in Emsworth
- Wednesday, October 22n– Theft of £99.92 worth of Yankee Candles from Farm Foods on London Road in Waterlooville.
- Tuesday, October 28 – Theft of £4.40 worth of milkshakes from the Co-Op on Devonshire Square in Southsea.
Appearing at the same court on Thursday, January 8, Liam Whittaker, 32, of no fixed abode in Portsmouth, pled guilty to six theft from shop offences from the One Stop on Hart Plain Avenue in Waterlooville. He was ordered to pay the One Stop £734.
He pled guilty to the below offences:
- Saturday, December 13 – Theft of £163.75 worth of alcohol.
- Monday, December 15– Theft of £56 worth of meat.
- Monday, December 15 – Theft of £104 worth of alcohol.
- Monday, December 15 – Theft of £104 worth of alcohol.
- Tuesday, December 16– Theft of £226.75 worth of alcohol.
- Tuesday, December 16 – Theft of £87 worth of alcohol.
PS Colin Webb from the Waterlooville South Neighbourhood Policing Team and Havant Priority Crime Team said, “Officers across Havant, Waterlooville and Hayling Island work tirelessly to ensure that crimes relating to shop theft are dealt with robustly.
“Repeated shoplifting causes real harm to retailers and their staff. We work closely with local businesses to support them and will continue to take strong action against those who persist in offending.
“No one is exempt from paying for their shopping and we will make sure offenders face prosecution for the relentless targeting of the businesses that serve our communities. Please continue to report incidents of shoplifting to us, as this helps us build a stronger picture of prolific offenders and hot-spot areas for crime.”