Jail for shoplifter who failed to appear at court

A shoplifter who continued offending after failing to appear at court has been jailed.

Alan Harding, 45, was arrested by the spree offender team in Peterborough city centre in January, following a string of shopliftings at B&M in Ortongate Shopping Centre and Pets at Home in Bourges Boulevard.

He was charged with the offences and bailed at court pending a further hearing which he failed to attend.

Harding continued his offending and stole almost £1,250 worth of items between 22 January and 5 March.

He was arrested at his home in Figtree Walk, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, and charged with the thefts.

At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (11 March), Harding was jailed for 22 weeks for eleven thefts and being in possession of a class B drug, after he was found in possession of ‘spice’ during a warrant in Peterborough.

PC Jack Jenkins, from the spree offender team, said: “Harding has shown a complete disregard for the law by failing to attend his court date and continue offending.

“Persistent shoplifters can have a big impact on the businesses they target, and the team will continue to take robust action against those causing issues.”