Summary
- Five prolific shoplifters jailed in south Bristol, receiving more than 170 weeks in prison.
- Police stress shoplifting’s economic and emotional impact on businesses and staff.
- New QR code reporting system launched to make it easier for retailers to report incidents.
Avon and Somerset Police have secured prison sentences for five prolific shoplifters from south Bristol, with courts handing down more than 170 weeks of jail time in just three weeks.
The convictions, which took place between 18 August and 4 September, include offences ranging from multiple shop thefts to assaults against shop staff.
Among those sentenced were Jesse Brooks, jailed for 20 months after admitting 15 offences, and Jamie-Lee Templer, who received 16 weeks for theft and assaulting a shop worker.
Other offenders include Thomas Jefferson, who received 24 weeks after pleading guilty to two counts of shop theft; Hayley Teale, who was jailed for 25 weeks for six shop theft offences; and Jack McCarthy, who was sentenced to 20 weeks after admitting to two counts of shop theft, two counts of assault and one count of driving while disqualified.
These verdicts follow the sentencing in May of prolific shoplifters Shaun Hartrey, who is currently serving 36 weeks in prison for 12 shop theft offences, and Glenn Isham, who has been jailed for 14 weeks and handed a three-year criminal behaviour order in June after pleading guilty to nine counts of theft.
Police said further sentencings are due in the coming weeks.
“The court outcomes this summer are a step towards protecting our communities from the blight of retail crime, but this is just the beginning,” Neighbourhood Sergeant Joe Iles said. “We’ll continue to deliver high-visibility patrols in south Bristol locations where issues are known, responding to reports and pursuing prosecutions whenever possible.”
As part of a wider crackdown, Avon and Somerset Police have rolled out a QR code reporting system for shop staff. The tool allows retailers to quickly report shoplifting, upload CCTV evidence and provide statements digitally, streamlining the process and helping police allocate resources more effectively.
The QR system is supported by the force’s dedicated Volume Offenders Team, which works with neighbourhood officers to target repeat offenders and link cases together for prosecution.
Retailers in the region are being urged to use the reporting tools available and submit high-quality evidence so that prolific shoplifters can be swiftly brought to justice.
“We need to hear about these incidents so we can investigate and target police resources accordingly. We therefore rely on local businesses to report all shoplifting incidents using the tools we’ve provided and to submit high-quality CCTV footage and witness statements,” Iles said.