Peterborough thief jailed after ignoring court ban from the Co-op to steal hundreds of pounds worth of goods from the retailer
A thief from Peterborough who ignored a court order banning her from the Co-op has been jailed after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of goods from the retailer.
Cambridgeshire police say that Michelle Blades (43) of Fletton High Street, Peterborough, had been given a two-year criminal behaviour order in February last year which banned her from all branches of the Co-op.
But police say Blades ignored the order and went to the Co-op in Columbus Road, Hempsted, Peterborough, and stole Nutella spread and chocolate eggs worth more than £65 on April 6.
A police spokesperson said: “She returned the following day to repeat the crime, stealing more chocolate and a bag of doughnuts.
“On April 8 she went to the shop for a third day in a row, this time taking bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bodywash without paying.”
Police say that Blades returned to the shop on April 24 where she stole more shampoo.
She was identified and arrested by police two days later.
The spokesperson said: “By entering the shop, Blades had breached a two-year criminal behaviour order she was handed in February last year which banned her from all branches of the Co-op.
She was jailed for 26 weeks at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court having admitted four counts of theft from a shop and four of breaching a criminal behaviour order.
Afterwards, PC Liam Harris said: “Blades was fully aware of the stipulations of her criminal behaviour order, but she chose to ignore it and relentlessly steal from the same shop.
“Thefts like these are not victimless crimes and repeat offending has a real impact on local businesses and their staff.
“We’re working closely with retailers to identify offenders, enforce court orders and bring perpetrators to justice.”