Peterborough suitcase thief told to pack his bags as he his sent to jail

Alan Evans (44) of Crowland Road, Peterborough stole more than £700 worth of cases from Matalan in just one week.

Evans got away with a total of nine suitcases in three visits to the shop - two worth a combined total of £110 on January 15, four worth a total of £325 on January 16 and three worth a total of £270 on January 22.

Light fingered Evans didn’t stop at suitcases either, stealing £300 worth of lighting equipment from Next at the Brotherhood Retail Park on January 19.

He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last week, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of shoplifting, and admitted breaching a suspended sentence - given to him for theft. He had been given a six week sentence, suspended for 12 months, in July last year after taking a reversing camera screen and jacket.

Evans was sentenced to 38 weeks in jail, and ordered to pay £300 compensation to Next and £705 compensation to Matalan.