A persistent shoplifter has been banned from entering almost all shops in a Herefordshire town after being convicted of multiple thefts from local retailers.
Three-year ban from town centre shops
John Lewis, 31, of no fixed abode, has been slapped with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) that prevents him from entering any retail premises in Leominster, Herefordshire, with only two specific exceptions. The order, granted at Worcester Magistrates Court, will remain in effect for three years.
Specific exceptions to the ban
The CBO specifically permits Lewis to enter only Aldi on Dishley Street in Leominster and Westfield Walk Pharmacy in the same town. The order also prohibits him from refusing to leave any premises when asked to do so by someone with proper authority.
Multiple theft convictions
Lewis was found guilty of five separate counts of theft on Friday, February 13, at Worcester Magistrates Court. His criminal activities included stealing a bottle of wine from Tesco Express on Ledbury Road in Hereford, Lego from WH Smith (now TG Jones) in Leominster, gift sets from Leominster Pharmacy, chargers and headphones from TG Jones in Leominster, and a mobile phone from Phone Solutions in Leominster.
Prison sentence and compensation order
In addition to the Criminal Behaviour Order, Lewis received an eight-week prison sentence and was ordered to pay £641 in compensation to his victims. West Mercia Police described Lewis as a "well-known" shoplifter whose actions have significantly impacted retailers and members of the public throughout north Herefordshire.
Police response to retail crime
Police Sergeant Nicola McColl of North Herefordshire Police stated: "Lewis is a well-known shoplifter around north Herefordshire whose actions have impacted retailers and members of the public. We hope this prison term and CBO will serve to protect the stores he has targeted and help reassure businesses that we continue to take retail crime seriously."
She added: "Lewis' offending will not be tolerated, and we will seek to continue to bring criminals to justice."
Reporting violations
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police urged the public to report any violations of the CBO by calling 101 or submitting information online through the police website. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be provided to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting their website.
The Criminal Behaviour Order represents a significant measure to protect local businesses from persistent retail crime, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to addressing theft and supporting affected retailers in the community.
