Peterborough: Josh Beeston stole from Co-Op and Tesco

Beeston was arrested on January 15 after officers conducted a traffic stop in Bright Street, West Town, after they spotted one of the passengers wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Beeston gave the officers a false name at first, but his details were run through the Police National Computer (PNC) which showed that he was wanted for multiple thefts.

He was then charged with 15 counts of theft from a shop, one attempted theft and threatening behaviour, after he threatened to stab a Co-op employee with a dirty needle.

Beeston admitted to all of the offences as follows:

- Theft of deodorants, shampoos, and body sprays of an unknown value from Co-op, Eagle Way, Hampton, between August 9 and August 14

- Theft of detergent worth £30 from Co-Op, Eagle Way, Hampton, on September 14

- Theft of detergents and chocolate worth £40 from Co-Op, Eagle Way, Hampton, on August 19

- Theft of meat worth £59.30 from Iceland, Flaxland, Bretton, on August 19

- Theft of alcohol worth £116 from Co-Op, Bentley Avenue, Yaxley, on August 24

- Theft of meat worth £59.15 from Iceland, Flaxland, Bretton, on August 27

- Theft of alcohol worth £174 from Co-Op, Bentley Avenue, Yaxley, on August 29

- Using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence at Co-Op, Bentley Avenue, Yaxley, on August 29

- Theft of confectionary worth £56.25 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on December 12

- Theft of meat and cheese worth £81.24 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on December 12

- Theft of cleaning products worth £22.50 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on December 13

- Theft of razor blades of an unknown value from Tesco, Staniland Way, Werrington, on December 13

- Theft of confectionary worth £61.25 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on December 14

- Theft of cleaning products worth £31.50 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on December 16

- Theft of laundry detergent worth £20 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on January 2

- Attempted theft of razor blades of an unknown value from Tesco, Staniland Way, Werrington, on January 2

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Beeston, of Home Pasture, Werrington, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (7 March), where he was sentenced to eight months in prison.

PC Bradley Spencer, who investigated, said: “Prolific shoplifters can have a big impact on retail staff, often making them feel intimidated or uncomfortable in their workplace.

“When it comes to tackling prolific offending, we rely on the reports from businesses, so I would like to urge them to report shoplifting of any value to us so we can build our investigations.”