Southend: Shoplifter ordered to complete drug rehabilitation course

A Southend man has been ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation course after admitting to shoplifting and persistent breaches of a criminal behaviour order.

Tommy Collinson, 36, of York Road, was arrested on 20 April 2024 by an officer from the city’s Operation Raker team who recognised him in Ilfracombe Avenue.

At Southend Magistrates’ Court on 22 April 2024, Collinson admitted committing 10 shop thefts – totalling £629.25 of meat, fish, coffee, chocolate and cheese – and eight breaches of a criminal behaviour order between 23 March and 15 April 2024. He also admitted one count of assault by beating.

He was jailed for a total of 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months and given a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement with STARS and a 30-days rehabilitation activity requirement.

Magistrates also ordered Collinson to pay £629.95 compensation, £145 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

The court also heard that Collinson had a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) imposed on him on 14 April 2023. This banned him from entering:

• Farm Foods, Greyhound Retail Park, Southend
• Matalan, Greyhound Retail Park, Southend
• Tesco Express, Southchurch Road, Southend
• Co-op, Sutton Road, Southend
• Co-op, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
• Co-op, London Road, Westcliff
• Iceland, York Road, Southend
• BP, London Road, Hadleigh

Magistrates agreed to continue the CBO but, additionally, to ban him from entering Iceland on the Greyhound Retail Park in Southend.

The TCT launched Operation Raker last year to target prolific repeat offenders, including shoplifters who steal in order to fund an addiction.

Since then, more than 30 people have been charged with more than 300 offences.

At Essex Police, we value difference. We know we’re strongest when we work together. And we want a workforce that represents our communities. 

If you share our values and want to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, then join us as a police officer, member of staff, special constable or volunteer.

Find out if you #FitTheBill by visiting our careers page.