Colchester: Shoplifter jailed for breaching banning order

A Colchester shoplifter who breached a five-year ban from entering Co-op stores across Essex has been jailed.

Shaun Kinghorn, 36, of Winchester Road, was arrested on 20 July 2024 near the Co-op in Wimpole Road, Colchester, shortly after local policing officers were called to reports of shoplifting.

He appeared before Chelmsford magistrates on 22 July and admitted 13 counts of shop theft, from both the Wimpole Road store and the Co-op store in Mersea Road, Colchester.

He also admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order imposed last year, which banned him from going into any Co-op store in Essex until 2028, and one charge of common assault of a shop worker.

The court heard Kinghorn stole items valued at hundreds of pounds, including meat, soft drinks, pet food, laundry detergents and air fresheners.

Kinghorn was jailed for a total of six months and ordered to pay his assault victim £150 compensation.

Sergeant Dean Young, of Colchester Local Policing Team, says:

“Our officers attended a report of shoplifting and quickly located Kinghorn while searching the area.
“It was a clear breach of his criminal behaviour order and, thanks to the evidence pack provided by the Co-op, we were able to present a strong case at court.
“Criminal behaviour orders offer offenders the opportunity to mend their ways but Kinghorn ignored this and now he has been jailed for breaching his.
“Kinghorn’s conviction for assaulting a member of shop staff demonstrates that shoplifting is not a victimless crime. I hope his jail sentence reassures staff in the stores he targeted that we take this type of crime seriously.
“We ask retailers to report all shop thefts and related anti-social behaviour to us and provide as much evidence as you can to assist our investigations.
“We also use the information you provide to identify emerging trends and target our operational activity.”

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