Prolific shoplifter jailed over six-week stealing spree

A prolific shoplifter is behind bars after going on a six-week stealing spree.

Richard Brown struck 11 times across five stores between 17 October and 26 November.

The 45-year-old committed the offences days after he was recalled to prison after failing to attend a probation appointment.

He targeted multiple stores including the Co-Op in Bramcote Lane, Chilwell, where he banned from under the terms of a Community Behaviour Order issued to him by magistrates in July 2024. He struck there three times, stealing salmon, cheese, butter and champagne.

He also targeted the Co-Op store in Bridgford Road, West Bridgford on four occasions – stealing cheese, packs of chicken and chocolate bars.

In other incidents, Brown twice stole Blu-Ray discs from Fopp in Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham city centre. He also stole nine T-shirts from Blacks in nearby Wheeler Gate, as well as Pokemon cards from Central News and Cards in Central Avenue, West Bridgford.

Brown, of no fixed address, was identified from CCTV images of the incidents and arrested by officers from the City Centre neighbourhood policing team.

He was detained after a plain-clothed police officer spotted him along South Parade while on patrol. Brown fled but was arrested after officers found him hiding in a nearby coffee shop.

He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday (29 November) and pleaded guilty to all 11 shop thefts, as well as three breaches of a Community Behaviour Order.

He was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay compensation totalling £887.05.

Sergeant Jono Pothecary, of the City Centre neighbourhood policing team, said:

“Brown is a prolific shoplifter who has shown a complete disregard for the law by failing to comply with his licence conditions, breaching his Community Behaviour Order and committing new offences.

“His brazen and persistent offending has had a considerable impact on local businesses, so I am pleased we have now been able to give them some respite by removing Brown from our streets.

“I hope this arrest reassures our local businesses, their customers and members of the public that we are treating this type of offending seriously and we will do everything we can to protect them from harm and bring offenders to justice.”