Prolific shoplifter threatened store manager

A prolific shoplifter who stole almost £800 worth of products and threatened a store manager has been jailed.

Josh Beeston, 26, was arrested on 15 January after officers conducted a traffic stop in Bright Street, West Town, after spotting one of the occupants wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Initially giving officers a false name, Beeston’s details were run through the Police National Computer (PNC) which showed he was wanted for multiple thefts.

He was later charged with 15 counts of theft from a shop, one attempted theft and threatening behaviour after he threatened to stab a Co-op employee with a dirty needle.

Beeston, of Home Pasture, Werrington, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (7 March), where he was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting all offences:

• Theft of deodorants, shampoos, and body sprays of an unknown value from Co-Op, Eagle Way, Hampton, between 9 August and 14 August
• Theft of detergent worth £30 from Co-Op, Eagle Way, Hampton, on 14 September
• Theft of detergents and chocolate worth £40 from Co-Op, Eagle Way, Hampton, on 19 August
• Theft of meat worth £59.30 from Iceland, Flaxland, Bretton, on 19 August
• Theft of alcohol worth £116 from Co-Op, Bentley Avenue, Yaxley, on 24 August
• Theft of meat worth £59.15 worth from Iceland, Flaxland, Bretton, on 27 August
• Theft of alcohol worth £174 from Co-Op, Bentley Avenue, Yaxley, on 29 August
• Using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence at Co-Op, Bentley Avenue, Yaxley, on 29 August
• Theft of confectionary and cleaning products worth £45.75 from Co-Op, Werrington, on 10 December
• Theft of confectionary worth £56.25 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on 12 December
• Theft of meat and cheese worth £81.24 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on 12 December
• Theft of cleaning products worth £22.50 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on 13 December
• Theft of razor blades of an unknown value from Tesco, Staniland Way, Werrington, on 13 December
• Theft of confectionary worth £61.25 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on 14 December
• Theft of cleaning products worth £31.50 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on 16 December
• Theft of laundry detergent worth £20 from Co-Op, Loxley Centre, Werrington, on 2 January
• Attempted theft of razor blades of an unknown value from Tesco, Staniland Way, Werrington, on 2 January

PC Bradley Spencer, who investigated, said: “Prolific shoplifters can have a big impact on retail staff, often making them feel intimidated or uncomfortable in their workplace.

“When it comes to tackling prolific offending, we rely on the reports from businesses, so I would like to urge them to report shoplifting of any value to us so we can build our investigations.”