Knife-carrying shop thief who persistently raided stores is locked up

A knife-carrying shop thief who persistently raided stores has been jailed. 

Prolific offender James Doran helped himself to meat and confectionary items, making no attempt to pay, after targeting Co-op stores in Beeston and Chilwell and the Tesco Extra store in Beeston on 9 and 10 August. 

Following inquiries into the series, including checking CCTV footage, officers arrested the 34-year-old in the Stapleford area, and he was subsequently charged. 

Doran had previously been made subject of a suspended prison sentence, in July, when he was convicted of stealing clothes from the TK Maxx store at Chilwell Retail Park and for possession of a knife in a public place, namely Middle Street in Beeston, which was found following a bag search. 

Doran pleaded guilty to four counts of shop theft and appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Tuesday 13 August. 

For those offences he was jailed for 16 weeks but his suspended order also kicked in, increasing his overall sentence to 42 weeks in prison. 

PC Samantha Gledhill, Chilwell beat manager, said: “As a force we will continue to target those who unlawfully carry knives and other weapons, causing harm and fear in our communities, and as we’ve repeatedly shown we will not tolerate anyone who comes into our neighbourhoods intent on stealing from hardworking local businesses.

“Doran has continued to commit shop theft on a regular basis, causing immense stress for retail staff. He has shown absolutely no regard for anyone but himself, so I am pleased he has now been locked up.

“I want to reassure our local businesses and residents that we will continue to do everything we can to protect them and bring offenders like Doran to justice and strive make our high streets and retail spaces safer for us all.

“The support of the community is vital in helping us to pursue offenders and prevent crime, so we would ask the public to get in touch if they have any information.”