- Anton Varga, 38, jailed for 12 months by Bristol Magistrates after admitting 17 shop thefts and two assaults.
- Offences occurred over two weeks in June, targeting stores across Downend, Fishponds, and other South Gloucestershire areas.
- Varga also breached a criminal behaviour order nine times; sentence reflects “maximum available to magistrates.”
A man who stole hundreds of pounds worth of goods and assaulted two people during a two-week shoplifting spree has been jailed for 12 months by Bristol Magistrates on Tuesday (17 June).
Anton Varga, 38, of Staple Hill, admitted to 17 shop thefts between 30 May and 14 June 2025, during which he stole items including meat worth more than £750, toiletries, and laundry products. The offences occurred at seven different shops in Downend, Fishponds, Lodge Causeway, Lyde Green, Mangotsfield, and Staple Hill.
He also admitted to assaulting a member of the public and a member of store staff during the spree.
In addition, Varga pleaded guilty to nine breaches of a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO), which was issued by the court in January 2025. The breaches included entering retail premises from which he had been banned.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Richard Humphrey from the South Gloucestershire policing team said the conviction sends a clear message.
“We know the impact of repeated thefts, threats and assaults on shop staff and we’re determined to target offenders who persistently commit crime and cause harm in our communities,” he said.
“The sentence of 52 weeks – the maximum available to magistrates – was imposed for breaching the CBO, with jail terms for the other offences to run concurrently. This shows the effect such orders can have.”
In a related development, Essex Police arrested 641 people for shop theft in the first five months of 2025 as part of their new strategy to combat rising retail offences.
