Gainsborough man banned from shops after spate of thefts

John Parker, 35, of Cross Street in Gainsborough, was handed a custodial sentence for several shop thefts on October 24, 2020 before being released on January 15, 2021.

Shortly after his release, he was convicted of further thefts in Gainsborough at Tesco and Boots and handed a custodial sentence for 11 weeks.

He was charged with three counts of theft from a shop on the morning of Tuesday, January 26, and appeared before Lincoln Magistrates on the same day.

The charges related to the theft of make up worth £155 from Boots in Market Place, Gainsborough, on January 22, the theft of toys (lego and hotwheels cars) worth £115 from Tesco in Trinity Street, Gainsborough on January 23, and the theft of a TV and an Amazon Firestick worth a combined value of £208 from the same shop on January 25.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two weeks in prison and a compensation order was made for him to repay the retailers.

After his conviction, several businesses highlighted the impact Parker was having on their businesses and Lincolnshire Police successfully applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which was granted on Thursday, March 25, at Lincoln Magistrates Court.

Under this order, Parker is not allowed to enter any retail premises in Gainsborough except for Caddy's Kabin in Trinity Street, Gainsborough and the Co-Op Pharmacy in Market Street, Gainsborough.

Before entering either of these stores he must make staff aware of his presence.

The CBO is in place for three years until midnight on March 24, 2024.

PC Paul Drummond from Gainsborough’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team says:

“Unfortunately we’ve had no choice but to apply for this order to protect local businesses.

"In serious cases of reoffending these orders are really useful as failing to comply with the conditions of a CBO constitutes a criminal offence.

"We have a duty to protect all local businesses in the town who our law-abiding citizens appreciate and in some cases depend on.”