Shoplifter who stole steaks, chocolates, perfume, and alcohol from Newark shops put behind bars

A shoplifter has been locked up after being linked to a string of more than ten thefts across the town.

Benjamin Young marched into Newark stores on 15 separate occasions and stole items including steaks, chocolates, perfume, alcohol, laundry products and sandwiches.

Eight stores across Newark were targeted by Young during his theft spree, from the start of last September to the end of January.

After reviewing the CCTV from each of the shops, neighbourhood officers were able to identify the 46-year-old, of no fixed address, as the person responsible.

Faced with the evidence gathered, he pleaded guilty to the 15 counts of shop theft he was charged with when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on February 6.

Young, who was already subject to a suspended sentence that he activated with his latest offending, was subsequently jailed for 18 weeks during that same court appearance.

He was also issued with a community protection warning with strict conditions to stay away from an address in Northgate, Newark, after being identified as causing anti-social behaviour issues in the area.

Sergeant Jack Walker, of the Newark neighbourhood policing team, said: “The officers involved in this case did a great job reviewing the CCTV available to pinpoint Benjamin Young as being the person responsible for these thefts.

“By gathering all the evidence they did, he was left with no option but to admit in court that he had in fact targeted each of these stores — with a custodial sentence following as a result.

“After receiving reports he’d been affecting the lives of residents with his antisocial behaviour, it was also pleasing to secure a community protection warning against him that will help when he is released.

“Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour can both have a really negative impact on how people feel about where they live, so results like this are important in showing that this type of behaviour won’t be tolerated and will lead to consequences.”