Clacton: Shoplifter jailed and banned from district’s Aldi stores

A 44-year-old shoplifter has been jailed and banned from Aldi stores across the Tendring district after stealing £825 of meat and fitness nutrition products.

On 7 January, Matthew Jenkins admitted four counts of shop theft and Chelmsford magistrates also heard he’d breached a previous community order
They jailed him for a total of 30 weeks for the thefts and for breaching a community order, because he’d targeted the same shop on several occasions.

The court also imposed a three-year criminal behaviour order which forbids him from entering any Aldi store in Tendring during that time.

The court heard Jenkins had stolen £782.96 of meat – including wagyu steaks – from Aldi in Pier Avenue on three occasions between 31 December and 5 January. He also stole £42 of fitness nutrition products from nearby Boots on 6 January.

But shortly after his last theft, officers from Tendring Neighbourhood Policing Team caught up with him in Old Road and arrested him.

Neighbourhood officer PC Sam Jewell said after the case that Jenkins had a history of offending.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Offenders’ behaviour can affect staff and customers in the shops they target,” he explained.
“We have a duty to protect all victims of crime from repeat offenders. And one way we can do this is by applying to the courts for criminal behaviour orders which are designed to prevent their re-offending and having a future impact on retail staff.”

Jenkins was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge.

CBOs are designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals where their behaviour has brought them before a criminal court.

It is an offence to breach the terms of a CBO and courts can impose a maximum sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both, for an adult convicted of breaching them.