Chelmsford: Repeat offender jailed for theft and assault

A 47-year-old man has been jailed for a string of offences a court order breaches in Chelmsford city centre.

On 22 August Keith Wright was seen by staff of a shop in Moulsham Street when he approached the shop window and removed his genitals from his trousers before running away.

Then, on 26 August, he entered the Moulsham Street Tesco – where he was banned from entering under the terms of a restraining order given to him in June 2024 – and attempted to steal alcohol before abusing staff verbally and leaving.

Then, on 30 August Wright made threatening hand gestures, running his finger across his neck, at staff in a shop in Cornhill.

Then, on 2 September he stole alcohol from Tesco Express in Duke’s Walk and Morrisons Daily in Moulsham Street. In the Morrisons store he brandished a hypodermic needle and threatened to stab security staff before running away.

Wright, of no fixed abode, was arrested later that day on suspicion of two public order offences, three thefts, breaching his restraining order, common assault, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and outraging public decency.

He was also in breach of a previous suspended sentence he received just 10 days before he pulled his genitals from his trousers in Moulsham Street.

He was charged with and pleaded guilty to all these offences, and was remanded in custody before he was sentenced on Wednesday 27 November.

Writ was given a total of a 12-month prison sentence, as well as being given a five-year restraining order, and a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order.

Inspector Sam Girdlestone of Chelmsford’s Community Policing Team said:

“Wright has repeatedly and flagrantly ignored the previous sentences and court orders he received and his behaviour could only be met with a prison sentence.
“I’d like to thank all the security staff and shop owners who contacted us promptly about Wright’s offending as well.
“Our Community Policing Team have a great working relationship with traders and security in town – it’s that trust that means we can catch offenders quickly and provide the evidence needed to secure these sentences.
“Our city centre is open for business and closed for crime, and Wright can now reflect on from prison.”

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