Seven prolific Skegness shoplifters sentenced as police target repeat retail crime

Seven repeat offenders have been sentenced or otherwise dealt with by the courts following a string of shoplifting offences in Skegness.

Lincolnshire Police published details of the cases on Friday, September 11, as officers highlighted ongoing work to tackle prolific retail crime in the town.

Police say a relatively small number of repeat offenders can be responsible for a significant amount of shop theft, placing pressure on local businesses and their staff.

Among those sentenced was Jack Holmes, 29, of Rowland Way, Skegness, who was given a 12-month prison sentence for nine shop theft offences and 12 breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

The offences took place between August 14 and August 21. Holmes was also ordered to pay £1,033 compensation, according to Lincolnshire Police.

Levi Marsden, 25, of Dorothy Avenue, Skegness, was jailed for eight months and one week after appearing at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on August 5.

Police said his case involved 29 shop theft offences committed between June and August, as well as 16 breaches relating to a previous suspended sentence order restricting which retail premises he could enter in Skegness.

Chloe Barnes, 31, of no fixed address, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on September 7 and was jailed for nine months after stealing chocolate and a vape worth £7.25. Police said a previous suspended sentence was also activated. She was ordered to pay £7.25 compensation.

Scott Cutts, 39, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to five shop theft offences and four breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order relating to incidents between July 26 and August 26. He was ordered to pay £409.72 compensation.

Police also confirmed that Brian Dockerty, 57, of Alexandra Road, Skegness, was recalled to prison after pleading guilty to shop theft and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order at Boston Magistrates' Court on September 1. He was jailed for eight weeks and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.

Sean Myers, 37, of South Parade, Skegness, received a 24-month suspended sentence following the theft of £160 worth of ham from Marks & Spencer Simply Food in Skegness on August 4.

Meanwhile, Wayne Cobb, 54, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody when he appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on September 7.

Police said Cobb had pleaded guilty to stealing two vapes worth £12 from Heron Foods in Skegness on August 30 and to three breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. A sentencing date had not been set when police issued their update.

Skegness Community Beat Manager PC Lucy Hawley said police were focusing their efforts on prolific offenders in an attempt to reduce repeat offending and give retailers greater confidence that reports of shop theft are being acted upon.

She said closer intelligence sharing between businesses, police and local authorities, alongside greater use of Criminal Behaviour Orders, was helping officers target repeat offenders.

The update was published by Lincolnshire Police at 10:43am on Friday, September 11.