A number of prolific shoplifters have faced the courts for thefts across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The five offenders have been sentenced in connection with other 30 offences.

They have all been handed criminal behaviour orders (CBO). Some have been jailed while others have been sentenced to rehabilitation requirements.

Here are the shoplifters that have been sentenced in recent weeks:

  • Lee Varga, aged 40 and from Staple Hill, received an 18-week prison sentence at Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday, December 16 after he pleaded to 11 shop thefts at supermarkets in Downend. A three-year CBO, with conditions not to enter those stores, was also handed to him.
  • Nicholas Chard, aged 42 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one charge of non-dwelling burglary and eight shoplifting offences, all in the Patchway, Thornbury and Cribbs Causeway areas. He received a prison sentence of 584 days, and on Tuesday, December 3 was made subject of a CBO lasting four-and-a-half years.
  • Lisa Ingleheart, 42 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to six shop thefts in Lyde Green on Thursday, December 12 receiving a three-year CBO, in addition to a rehabilitation requirement, as part of her sentence.
  • Jake Duggan, 33 and of no fixed address, was sentenced to a rehabilitation requirement in addition to a two-year CBO on Wednesday, November 20 after pleading guilty to seven shoplifting offences in Lyde Green.
  • Emil Johnson, 45 and of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 3 to five weeks in prison after pleading guilty to four thefts from shops in the city. He also received a three-year CBO.

South Gloucestershire Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Barny Mabbett said: ‘We are working hard with our communities to try to tackle shoplifting and business crime. The impact of some criminality can be huge to retailers, particularly around Christmas time.

“These offenders are well known to local businesses and we hope the CBOs will not only prevent further shoplifting offences and reduce harm within our communities, but encourage people to report such offences so appropriate action can be taken. We will continue to target prolific offenders and obtain court orders where appropriate to prevent offending in our area.”