Colchester: Jail for prolific shoplifter arrested within nine minutes of crime report

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed following an extensive investigation by Colchester Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Ben Thompson, 24, was apprehended in Shrub End Road by local policing officers just nine minutes after his latest theft from the nearby East of England Co-op store was reported to police, magistrates were told on 27 October.

He was also in breach of a criminal behaviour order imposed on 8 August 2025 which forbade him for entering any Co-op or Poundland store in Essex for two years.

Officers searching Thompson after he was arrested found a glass hammer and a seatbelt cutter in his pocket.

Altogether, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court was told, Thompson was charged with and admitted a total of 40 counts of shop theft and 30 breaches of the criminal behaviour order between 4 August and 21 October 2025.

Most of the shop thefts occurred at Co-op stores across Colchester and at Stanway Retail Park, with a few at Sainsbury’s in Layer Road. Thompson stole a total of £4,841.83 of food, alcohol, chocolates and laundry products.

He also admitted two counts of burglary with intent to steal at the Co-op store in Iceni Way on 23 and 24 October and a further charge of fraud by false representation by using a stolen bank card to buy three packets of cigarettes.

Magistrates jailed him for 52 weeks for all charges but added another 27 weeks by activating a previous suspended jail term, making a total of 79 weeks. Thompson was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

Investigating officer PC Zoe Pendry, of Colchester Neighbourhood Policing Team, said after the hearing that Thompson was a prolific offender who had ignored previous chances given to him by the courts.

“Thompson had previously been given a suspended sentence and a court banning order to encourage him to mend his ways but he disregarded them and continued to offend.
“However, we have a good relationship with our local retailers and, thanks to the quality CCTV footage and witness statements they provided our investigation, he was left with no choice but to plead guilty at the first opportunity in court and face the consequences of this actions.
“I hope the sentence reassures staff and customers at the stores he targeted, who will have been upset by Thompson’s behaviour and criminal activities, that we take shop theft seriously.”

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