Repeat Gosport shoplifter jailed

A man in Gosport has been jailed for a number of offences including shoplifting and assault in Spar Rowner Road store.

According to Hampshire Police, Aaron Smethurst, aged 38, of Old Road in Gosport, was charged with multiple offences of shoplifting and assault, all of which he pleaded guilty to at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (27).

He was charged with multiple offences of shoplifting from December to February of goods collective worth of which is more than £500. The shoplifted items included coffee, washing products, meat, peanut butter and tea bags. He was also charged with assault on two women at the same SPAR store on Feb 13.

Magistrates jailed him for 16 weeks.

Hampshire police stated that neighbourhood Policing Teams put victims first by responding to and investigating thefts from shops, targeting shoplifters, and the force will be relentlessly pursuing those that are abusive or violent to staff or who are repeat offenders.

Chief Inspector Chris Spellerberg, District Commander for Fareham & Gosport, said, “Shoplifting is not a victimless offence. We recognise that repeat shoplifting in particular creates an environment of fear for many retail workers. As a result they may feel unsafe and unprotected in their own workplaces. In addition, store owners losing products to thieves means that they not only lose the profit margin, but the entire value of the product. This in turn will impact prices for consumers.

“The Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Gosport are continuing to focus on retail crime across the borough so that we can address the concerns of the local community and retailers that serve them”.