A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for eight weeks after carrying out six thefts in South Gloucestershire shortly after receiving a suspended sentence for previous offences.
Anton Varga, 39, of Berkeley House, Staple Hill, pleaded guilty to six counts of shop theft and was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 3 September.
Varga had recently been handed a suspended sentence for earlier offences but went on to commit further shop thefts. He was subsequently arrested and charged before being given an immediate custodial sentence.
He was also found to have breached the conditions of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) that was already in place.
In addition to the eight-week jail term, Varga was ordered to pay compensation and a £154 victim surcharge.
Sgt Matthew Cooke, from the Staple Hill Neighbourhood Team, welcomed the custodial sentence and urged retailers to continue reporting incidents of shop theft.
“Varga is a prolific offender, and we would continue to urge business owners and retailers to continue reporting incidents to us,” he said.
Cooke highlighted the wider impact of retail crime on businesses and their employees.
“Not only do shop thefts create significant financial harm to the businesses targeted, but the related anti-social behaviour can cause harassment, alarm and distress to staff and the wider community,” he added.