Mark Smith, 40, has been jailed after he breached his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which banned him from Ortongate Shopping Centre for two years.

On March 8, Smith entered the Co-op in Ortongate Shopping Centre, Peterborough, and stole £100 worth of chocolate.

Later that day, a neighbourhood policing officer came across Smith in Hinchcliffe, Orton Goldhay, and arrested him in connection with the theft and being in breach of a CBO. 

Smith was given the CBO in February after he was convicted of 26 offences in the last year.

He was further arrested for being in possession of a Class C drug, namely Buprenorphine (Subutex), after it was found on him during a search.

Smith, of no fixed address, was later charged with:

  • - Theft of £61.48 worth of chocolate from Spar, Herlington, Orton Malbourne, on March 1
  • - Theft of £100 to £150 worth of chocolate from Tesco Express, Napier Place, Orton Wistow, on March 3
  • - Theft of £75.40 worth of chocolate from Co-Op, Napier Place, Orton Wistow, on March 3
  • - Breach of a CBO by entering Co-Op, Ortongate Shopping Centre, on March 5
  • - Theft of £50 to £100 worth of chocolate from Co-Op, Ortongate Shopping Centre, on March 8
  • - Breach of a CBO by entering Co-Op, Ortongate Shopping Centre, on March 8
  • - Possession of a class C drug, namely Buprenorphine, on March 8

Recommended Reading: Facebook: Isaac Barry has been jailed for goading police

He appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (9 March), where he was sentenced to 18-weeks in prison after admitting all offences.

He has also been ordered to pay £200.80 in compensation to Co-Op, £150 in compensation to Tesco, and £61.48 in compensation to Spar.

PC Saunders, who investigated, said: “Prolific shoplifting not only has a financial effect on the businesses, but it also impacts the staff as they have to repeatedly deal with the offenders and often face abuse from them as a result.

“I have applied to the courts to have Smith’s CBO extended and further locations added in a bid to tackle his prolific offending, as if he is found to be in breach of the order, we are able to arrest him and put him back before the courts.”

A CBO hearing has been set for 20 June.

Anyone with information about Smith breaching the CBO should contact police via the web chat service or online forms at www.cambs.police.uk/report.

Those without internet access should call 101.