Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
A persistent Southend shoplifter has been banned from every BP garage and store across Essex for two years.
Stacey Samuels, 35, has also been prohibited from entering the Co-op store in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, during that time.
The criminal behaviour order with these two conditions was imposed on Samuels by Basildon magistrates at a court hearing on 22 January.
They were told Samuels had admitted 39 counts of shop theft totalling almost £1,600 of goods – including meat, ready meals, boxes of chocolates and bottles of wine – between 28 January and 24 March 2024. She also admitted two attempted shop thefts, possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine.
Samuels, of Prince Avenue, Westcliff, targeted the BP garage in West Street, Westcliff, as well as the Co-op in Hamlet Court Road, over a two-month period, the court heard.
Sergeant Steve Wells, of Southend Town Centre Team, said after the hearing:
“Samuels is a persistent shoplifter but my team caught up with her and she’s had to face the consequences of her actions.
“I hope staff in the stores she targeted feel safer now she’s been banned from entering them and in the knowledge that, if she breaches her criminal behaviour order, she could be jailed.
“And I also hope Samuels takes the opportunity the court gave her to get treatment for her addiction and, thus, remove the root cause of her offending behaviour.”
As well as the two-year criminal behaviour order, magistrates also imposed an 18-month community order, with requirements to undertake a six-month drug rehabilitation programme & 30 days of rehabilitation activity and to be electronically monitored until 22 April 2025.
Samuels was also ordered to pay a total of £1,042 compensation to BP and £36 to the Co-op while the court made another order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
She was arrested in March 2024 when a town centre team officer spotted her shortly after she was reported to be stealing from the BP garage in West Street. The officer found her in possession of stolen meat.
Samuels was subsequently charged with 33 counts of shop theft. While on court bail, she committed another six thefts and a further two attempts in just four days.
Criminal behaviour orders are designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals where their behaviour has brought them before a criminal court.
CBOs also tackle the underlying causes of offending and, where appropriate, require offenders to engage in treatment services, such as drug and alcohol addiction support.
It is an offence to breach the terms of a CBO and courts can impose a jail term or a fine, or both, for an adult convicted of breaching them.