Sleaford - prolific shoplifter sent to prison

Nathan Stevenson, 32 years, of no fixed address, has been sent to prison for 28 weeks after pleading guilty to five counts of theft from shop and five counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

The ten offences all happened in Sleaford between 12 – 18 March this year. Stevenson stole household goods to a value of just over £634 from three different stores.  He has a CBO with conditions not to enter any retail premises within Sleaford apart from one shop and a medical practice.

By example of his persistent offending, Stevenson, having appeared in court in Lincoln on 12 March for similar offences, stepped off the train in Sleaford and went to the Co-op where he stole £102.25 worth of goods.

Over the next few days, he persisted in stealing goods from the Spar and Boyes stores in the town.  The Neighbourhood Policing Team recorded witness statements, secured CCTV footage and collected the evidence required to prove his offending.

We published an appeal for help to locate Stevenson on 20 March and he was arrested on Monday 23 March for the ten offences and subsequently charged.

He was put in front of the next available court on Tuesday 24 March where he pleaded guilty to the five charges of theft and the five breaches of his CBO.

He was handed a 28-week prison sentence and must pay a surcharge of £154.His CBO remains in place with conditions not to enter any retail premises within Sleaford, with the exception of the Spar, Hockmeyers Garage, Holdingham and a named medical practice; it runs until 23 March 2028.

PC Sarah Kennedy, Sleaford Town Community Beat Manager, said: “The Neighbourhood Team have worked really hard to bring Stevenson to justice.  He has been a walking crime spree and the blight of many stores in the town.  He has blatantly ignored his Community Behaviour Order and continued to reoffend.

“As a Neighbourhood Team we will continue to work with our communities to target people who cause harm within Sleaford.”

Details of charges:

• 18 March, theft from Boyes, Sleaford - value of goods £98.98
• 18 March, theft from Spar store, Sleaford- value of goods £225.25
• 18 March, theft from Spar, Sleaford - value of goods £169.01
• 12 March, theft from Co-op, Sleaford - value of goods £102.25
• 17 March, theft from Sainsburys, Sleaford - value of goods £39

Breach of CBO

• 18 March, entered the Spar Store
• 12 March, entered Sleaford Co-op
• 18 March entered Spar store
• 18 March entered Boyes
• 17 March entered Sainsbury’s store