Canvey & Leigh-on-Sea: Shoplifter banned from stores for five years

A prolific shoplifter who stole multiple food and grocery items in a series of thefts on Canvey and in Leigh-on-Sea has been banned from all Co-op and Nisa stores on the island for five years.

Steven Whiteman, 37, admitted nine counts of shop theft, one attempted shop theft and two counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order issued in February.

“Although the values of meat, drink and laundry detergent stolen on each individual occasion were relatively small, together they amounted to several hundred pounds, which is a loss that is hard for shops to sustain.”
Sergeant Christian Denning, Business Crime Team

Southend magistrates heard on 3 September that Whiteman’s thefts ranged from a £4.97 bottle of washing liquid to £100 of meat, both stolen on different occasions from Nisa in Third Avenue.

Between 10 April and 3 August 2024, Whiteman stole from Nisa, the Co-op store in Canvey Road and The Food Warehouse, all on Canvey, as well as the Co-op store in Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea.

Twice, the court was told, his criminal activity involved breaches of a five-year criminal behaviour order issued by a court in February, which forbade him from entering the Co-op store in Canvey Road, Morrisons Daily in Dovervelt Road, and Poundland in Furtherwick Road, all on Canvey. That followed his sentencing for stealing £50 of meat from the Co-op in Canvey Road on 21 January 2023.

Whiteman, of no fixed address, was detained by staff at The Food Warehouse on Canvey Island Retail Park on 2 September 2024 after attempting to steal meat and was arrested by a Canvey Town Centre Team officer shortly afterwards.

Sergeant Denning adds:

“We continue to encourage retailers to report thefts, assaults and associated anti-social behaviour to us. Where we have the evidence, we will seek to secure charges.
“All information provided helps us to identify new retail crime trends and patterns in offending behaviour and we use it to provide specialist crime prevention advice. You can report information to us online.”

As well has having additional bans placed on his criminal behaviour order – not to enter any Co-op or Nisa store on Canvey – which was extended until September 2029, Whiteman was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £415.47 in compensation and to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

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