A 32-year-old man from Southampton has been jailed for two years and banned from every Co-op in Hampshire for stealing more than £8,000 worth of items from Southampton stores.

Jamie Robert Johnson, of no fixed abode, was sentenced when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court on February 11, having pleaded guilty to all the charges against him at an earlier hearing.

Johnson was imprisoned after admitting 67 offences at various shops between Wednesday, August 7 and Monday, December 23, last year.

The stores who were victims of Johnson’s offending included Co-op, Tesco, Boots and Marks & Spencer and the total value of the thefts amounted to £8,617.91.

As well as two years in jail, Johnson will also begin a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order upon his release from prison.

The conditions of the order include:

  • Not to enter Eastleigh town centre, including Swan Centre.
  • Not to enter any Co-Op in Hampshire.
  • Must leave any store or business premises immediately when asked to do so by a member of staff.
  • Must place items you wish to purchase in a basket or trolley provided by the store until you have purchased the items and the basket/trolley must be left behind.

If Johnson fails to comply with the order, he risks being arrested and further prosecuted.

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PC Ben Pollicott, from Southampton North Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I am very pleased to see Johnson held accountable for his actions and placed behind bars.

“The time he will now spend in prison will offer the stores, who were victims of his offending, a prolonged period of protection from any further thefts at his hands.

“And, when Johnson is released, the Criminal Behaviour Behaviour will afford these stores continued protection against any further losses as a result of his criminality.

“Johnson has continually targeted shops across the district, stealing all manner of items and showing no willingness to comply with the law.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Repeat offences in particular can create an environment of fear for many retail workers, and this is simply not okay.

“We want to stop this criminality, and encourage businesses affected to please keep reporting crimes to us, so we can relentlessly pursue those responsible.

“Local policing teams put in a lot of work to support businesses and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.”