9:10am Sunday 21st March 2010
AN aggressive shoplifter who terrified staff has been jailed to protect the public.
Paul Jones, aged 41, admitted three thefts and breaching an anti-social behaviour order at Bolton Magistrates Court.
Yesterday, he was sentenced to eight months in prison.
The court heard he has 53 convictions with 175 offences, of which 60 were thefts.
Jones was jailed days after the terms of his Anti-Social Behaviour Order were varied by a court, a move which gave stores extra powers to tackle him.
On Wednesday, shop staff across Bolton were given powers to eject Jones if they felt threatened by him.
The court order meant prolific thief Jones must leave any shop in the town when asked to do so.
Shop staff said Jones, of Levens Drive, Breightmet, is so intimidating that they are too scared to stop him when he walks out without paying.
His defence solicitor, Ann Deakin, admitted: “He is abusive generally to anybody and everybody.”
Yesterday’s hearing was told that the latest offences happened in December last year.
Jones took £61 worth of lamb from SMS supermarket in Crompton Way on December 13, and a further £25 worth of lamb six days later.
On December 18, he took £21 of meat from Netto in Bury Road, where he was banned from entering under the terms of his ASBO.
Nicola Ormerod, prosecuting, said he was captured on CCTV in the stores putting items into a carrier bag and walking out without paying.
She added that a witness in the Netto store recognised him, but did not want to approach him as she was on her own.
Magistrate Carlton Jansen, chairman of the bench, said: “We think this case is so serious that only custody is appropriate.
“You are a prolific offender with a horrendous record. You have not complied with any orders of the court and a custodial sentence is necessary to protect the public and shop owners.”
Sgt John Boyce, from the Bolton East neighbourhood police team, said: “This man has plagued shopkeepers for many years and the police and criminal justice system have worked hard to curb his activities.”
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