Thief threatened shop staff

A repeat shoplifter who threatened retail staff has been given a curfew and ordered to pay compensation to his victim.

Edward Murray, 37, entered Next in the Brotherhood Shopping Park in Peterborough on 1 November and threatened to harm a member of staff before stealing two coats.

 

 

Nine days later, he entered Morrisons in Bellona Drive, Cardea and stole six selection boxes, three boxes of chocolates, and other food items.

Shortly after, he went into Tesco Express in Whittlesey Road, Stanground, and pretended to use the cash machine but was asked to leave by staff due to a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) being in place banning him from the store.

Murray became aggressive and police were called, who arrested him in nearby Penelope Grove.

On 5 October Murray was made subject of a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order after admitting stealing steak worth £57.75 from a Tesco Express in Stanground.

The order states for the next two years he must not enter:

• Tesco Express, Whittlesey Road, Stanground, or its grounds
• Applegreen Horsey Way Service Station, Whittlesey Road, Stanground, or its grounds
• Morrisons, Bellona Drive, Cardea, or its grounds
• Nisa Local, Southfields Drive, Stanground, or its grounds

Murray, of Fen View, Stanground, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday (24 November) where he admitted eight offences:

• Theft of various items worth £90.52 (BLT sandwich, Stella beer, three Cadburys chocolate bars, a four-pack of Snickers bars, a four-pack of Mars bars, two packets of M&Ms, three bags of Haribo, Malteasers, three four-packs of Kit Kats, Lynx deodorant, Mentos chewing gum and two phone chargers) from Co-op, Mayors Walk, West Town, Peterborough, on 12 October
• Theft of kiln-dried logs from Tesco, Hostmoor Avenue, March, on 19 October
• Theft of coats worth £230 from Next, Brotherhood Shopping Park, Peterborough, on 1 November
• Section 4 public order offence, namely using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress, at Next, Brotherhood Shopping Park, Peterborough, on 1 November
• Theft of various items worth £40.43 from Morrisons, Bellona Drive, Cardea, Peterborough, on 10 November
• Section 4 public order offence, namely using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress, at Tesco Express, Whittlesey Road, Stanground, Peterborough, on 10 November
• Breach of a CBO by attending Tesco Express, Whittlesey Road, Stanground, Peterborough, on 10 November
• Breach of a CBO by attending Morrisons, Bellona Drive, Cardea, Peterborough on 10 November

He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, must adhere to a curfew between 7pm and 7am for the next four months, wear an electronic tag, pay £50 in compensation to each of the victims of the public order offences and complete a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

His CBO has also been extended for a further three years, with additional conditions not to go to Brotherhood Shopping Park or any Tesco store within Cambridgeshire.

PC Megan Gould, who investigated, said: “Murray is a prolific offender who does not appear to be learning his lesson. He has been given another chance by the courts and handed a suspended sentence, however for as long as he continues to offend and breach his CBO, we will continue to arrest him and put him back before the courts.”

Anyone with information about Murray breaching his CBO should contact us via our web chat service or online forms at report.

Those without internet access should call 101.