Jail for serial thief

A serial shoplifter who went on a stealing spree in Peterborough has been jailed.

Darnell Baverstock, 27, began by stealing laundry products from Co-op in Oundle Road on 7 April.

In the following three months he went to multiple shops, stealing items including tools, a high value iPhone and groceries.

On 17 June Baverstock went to a branch of Lidl in Oundle Road and selected several meat products. When he tried to leave the shop without paying he was challenged by staff. In response, he pushed a man over and left the area.

The spree ended on 27 July when he took various products from Dunelm in Maskew Avenue without paying.

Baverstock was identified and arrested on 1 August by officers from Peterborough’s recently formed Spree Offender Team.

It is estimated he stole items worth £3700 during the spree.

Baverstock, of no known address, admitted 13 counts of theft from a shop and common assault.

Yesterday (26 August) at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court he was jailed for 24 weeks and ordered to pay £550 compensation.

PC Jack Jenkins, from the Spree Offender Team, said: “Baverstock is a persistent thief who was clearly intent on stealing items whenever the opportunity arose.

“Retail crime has a significant impact on both businesses and the hard-working employees who witness these crimes.

“We are working hard to combat retail and other high-volume crimes as we seek to bring some of the county’s most prolific offenders to justice.”

For more information on the Spree Offender Team visit the recent news article on this  website.