Prolific shoplifters get jail time, ban

Two shoplifters were sentenced to jail by Cambridgeshire courts and another served a prohibitory order in Cumbria in separate cases.

David Delancy from Stevenage has been jailed for a total of ten months after pleading guilty to a number of shoplifting offences.

The 44-year-old was found guilty of six shoplifting offences and one burglary.

He stole over £1,000 worth of meat from various businesses in Stevenage, including the Co-op, Sainsburys, the Coopers Inn and B&M Bargains, between 1 November and 5 December, 2019. He targeted the Co-op thrice.

Delancy pleaded guilty to the charges before Cambridge Crown Court on 3 February.

In Cambridge, Camilla Rumsey, 29, has been sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, after she was identified as responsible for a number of shopliftings throughout the city.

She particularly targeted the department store chain TK Maxx, stealing on ten separate occasions between 4 October and 5 November, 2019. She also stole twice from Debenhams and once from Boots in this period.

Rumsey, of no fixed abode, admitted to all 13 counts of theft at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 10 February.

She was ordered to pay £400 in compensation to TK Maxx.

Cumbria Police has secured a Criminal Behaviour Order against a woman who has regularly stolen from shops in Carlisle.

Louise Challinor, 40, of Coleville Terrace was issued a two year community order on 11 February at Carlisle Magistrates Court.

The order prohibits her from entering any premises part of the Carlisle Shopwatch/Retailers against crime scheme and any retail premises on St Nicholas Gate retail park, Carlisle.

“CBOs are a useful tool available to the courts which can help the offender to cease further criminality and help protect residents,” said PC Heidi Underwood of Carlisle Local Focus Team.

“I would encourage anyone who witnesses the terms of such a court order being broken to contact the police immediately. The punishment for breaking the terms of a CBO can be up to five years in prison.”