Chelmsford: Dedicated officers work to get shoplifter banned from city stores

Following work by dedicated officers from our Chelmsford Town Centre Team, a 23-year-old Maldon man has been banned from Co-op stores across the city.

Colchester magistrates on 23 August 2023 granted a three-year criminal behaviour order against Charlie Hunt-Wragg, of High Street, which forbids him from entering any Co-op store in Chelmsford during that time.

He is also prohibited from entering the High Chelmer Shopping Centre in Chelmsford and from remaining in any shop or commercial premises, if staff ask him to leave.

CBOs are designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals where their behaviour has brought them before a criminal court.

It is an offence to breach the terms of a CBO and courts can impose a maximum sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both, for an adult convicted of breaching them.

Hunt-Wragg was also ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work and to pay a £114 victim surcharge.

He had previously admitted three counts of theft from the Co-op store in Melbourne Avenue on 13 & 16 June & 6 July and one relating to the store in Havengore on 26 June. He also admitted stealing from Bodycare in the High Chelmer Shopping Centre on 28 June and from the Co-op store in Torquay Road, Springfield, on 3 & 13 July. Household products, including washing detergent, toiletries, confectionery, pet food and litter were among the items he stole.

A town centre team officer identified Hunt-Wragg from store CCTV and Hunt-Wragg was arrested just hours later on 13 July.

Acting Inspector Graham Thomas, of Chelmsford Town Centre Team, said after the hearing that Hunt-Wragg was a prolific shoplifter with a history of offending.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. And Hunt-Wragg’s behaviour has had a serious impact on staff and customers in the shops he has targeted.
“We work hard to keep the city centre safe and to protect victims of crime from repeat offenders while also seeking to divert those offenders from their criminal behaviour.
“And applying to the courts for criminal behaviour orders is one way we can do this as the conditions can be tailored to an individual’s particular circumstances.
“In this case, Hunt-Wragg has not only been banned from several stores, he is not allowed to remain in any shop or business premises if he is asked to leave.”

Essex Police Business Crime Team

Our Business Crime Team specialises in supporting businesses, working to build relationships with independent shops and retail chains, explaining how they can report crime to us and, just as importantly, what will happen when they do. 

They help to identify risks in the workplace, providing crime prevention, fraud and cyber-crime advice and strengthening links with businesses and partners, including local community safety partnerships, Essex Chambers of Commerce and the Essex Federation of Small Businesses. 

Working with the National Business Crime Centre, the team share nationally-identified crime trends and best practice with our business community. And they have also developed a comprehensive guide to business crime prevention which identifies steps business-owners can take to protect themselves and their properties. 

For more information, visit our Business Crime Team pages.