Shoplifter who plagued Newark stores to spend Christmas in prison

A shoplifter renowned for stealing from Newark’s shops has found himself behind bars once again.

Raymond Canham’s antics resulted in him being sent to prison on two separate occasions back in the summer.

Fresh from receiving a custodial sentence in June, he carried on stealing when he was out, so was jailed for eight more weeks in July.

The 51-year-old didn’t learn his lesson following his latest spell behind bars however – instead deciding to go on another stealing spree.

Newark’s shops were his target once again, with Canham filling his pockets with items during six separate thefts across September and October.  

The Co-Ops in Bowbridge Road and Albert Street, B&M in Victoria Street, and the Northgate Retail Park-based Home Bargains were all targeted.

Canham then returned to three of these four stores again while carrying out six more shop thefts between 13 November and 1 December.

This time he made off with a selection of stolen meat products, cheese, butter, and dishwasher tablets.

Officers investigating the theft series found Canham’s face plastered all over the footage when they reviewed the in-store CCTV.

He was then tracked down by Newark's neighbourhood policing team, with the shoplifter going on to be charged with 12 separate counts of shop theft.

Canham, of Tolney Lane, Newark, pleaded guilty to each of the offences when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (10 December).

He was sentenced that same day to 20 weeks in prison.

PC Laura Marriott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

"It is pleasing to know that Canham will be away from Newark's shops for the duration of the Christmas period.

"He has several times now continued to flout the rules by stealing items that don't belong to him, despite being jailed before for other similar offences.

"Canham clearly didn't learn his lesson following his previous spell behind bars, instead choosing to shoplift again within weeks of being released from prison.

"That decision to pocket items without paying for them is incredibly disrespectful to those who do the right thing and spend their hard-earned money on their shopping. 

"We can only hope that Canham's latest custodial sentence provides him with the wakeup call that he clearly needs."