An habitual Gosport thief has been banned from a number of shops and supermarket chains across the country for five years as part of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Andrew Brady, aged 43 and of no fixed abode, was also jailed for 20 weeks when he appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing.

The court heard that between 31 December 2023 and 23 May this year, Brady stole more than £1500 worth of goods from shops in Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent, and also stole a wallet in Brockhurst Gate on 21 May.

The goods stolen from shops included alcohol, food, and sun cream.

He appeared before a judge on Thursday 17 October where he was handed the prison sentence as well as the CBO. 

Under the conditions of the CBO, Brady must not enter any premises from which he has been banned, and must not remain in any shop or commercial premises if asked to leave by staff.

The shops from which Brady has been banned are:

If Brady fails to comply with the CBO, he risks being arrested and prosecuted further.

Sergeant Rhys McCarthy, from the Gosport Neighbourhoods Policing Team, said: “Brady has continually targeted shops across the district, stealing all manner of different food items and showing no willingness to comply with the law.

“We regularly target and prosecute shoplifters, however securing this CBO provides additional restrictions which help us prevent and disrupt any potential further offending perpetrated by Brady.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. Repeat offences in particular can create an environment of fear for many retail workers, and this is simply not ok.

“We want to stop this type of behaviour, and encourage businesses affected to please keep reporting crimes to us so we can relentlessly pursue those responsible.

“Local policing teams put in a lot of work to support businesses, disrupt habitual offenders like Brady, and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.”