Prolific shop lifter banned from shops on the coast

A prolific shoplifter has been handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), banned from entering shops and given a suspended sentence.

Luke Smedley, aged 35, of Mill View Close, Ingoldmells, was handed the CBO on Wednesday, 6 September which will remain in place for two years.

A CBO is a civil order designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals where their behaviour has brought them before a criminal court. The order means there are now enforceable conditions on where Smedley can and cannot go, and that he will no longer be able to enter the stores in Chapel St. Leonards and Ingoldmells which he previously targeted.

If a CBO is breached, this is a criminal offence and a custodial sentence can be enforced. For the most serious offences, this can be up to five years.

The conditions mean he is prohibited from entering any retail premises in Ingoldmells and Chapel St Leonards.

Smedley was also handed an eight-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a rehabilitation activity requirement after he pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court to several shop thefts. They are:

• On 08/03/2023 at Tesco, Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, stole a bottle of wine, to the value of £7.70
• On 08/03/2023 at Tesco, Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire used threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.
• On 10/02/2023 at Tesco, Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, stole three steaks, to the value of £15.00
• On 24/09/2022 at The Co-op, Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire, stole health and beauty items, of a value unknown, belonging to Lincolnshire Co-Op.
• On 21/04/2023 at Tesco, Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire stole two bottles of wine to the value of £13

Inspector Jacky Evans said: “Smedley has been a perpetual shop thief within Chapel St Leonards and Ingoldmells over the past year.  This order will hopefully prevent him from offending and, in turn, I hope it provides reassurance to the local community and our retailers that police will take positive action in these situations.

"This type of offending blights our communities and we want to protect them from it. These orders seek to provide longer-term solutions to prevent this behaviour, allowing both prohibitive and positive requirements to be imposed. They also provide the courts with additional sentencing powers to deal with any breaches.

"A disproportionate amount of harm and criminal behaviour is committed by a few prolific offenders; by targeting these people we aim to significantly reduce harm in the community.”

We keep a continued watch of people who have been issued with CBOs, and we proactively release their image so that members of the community have the opportunity to recognise offending, and are more able to report an incident if one occurs.

If you have an incident you feel needs police attention, please contact us on 101.