Thief jailed thanks to joint effort to combat crime in the city

A Cambridge thief has been jailed thanks to a joint effort to combat crime in the city.

On Monday (20 June), Stephen Neal was spotted by security staff breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by entering Sainsbury’s on Sidney Street.

He was removed from the store and suspecting he was up to no good, security and CCTV observed him as he left and went into nearby Marks and Spencer on Market Hill.

A few minutes later Neal ran from M&S carrying eight steaks worth more than £120 but was quickly apprehended by the security member who had followed him.

Neal, 35, of Trafalgar Street, Cambridge, was arrested by police and at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court yesterday (21 June) was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to theft and breach of a CBO.

Neal’s CBO remains in place until December 2023 and states he must not:

• Be in possession of any pedal cycle or cycle part unless having notified police of his lawful possession
• Go to Superdrug, Boots, Go Outdoors or Sainsbury’s in Cambridge or within the boundary of the M11, A11 and A14 unless he has a current prescription or has ben directed by a GP to attend.

PC Emily-Jayne Matthews, from the Cambridge neighbourhood policing team, said: “The arrest and conviction of Neal is thanks to the teamwork of shops, CAMBAC and the use of their radios and police working together. I hope this sends a message to others that there is no place for crime in our city.”