A 32-year-old man from Southampton has been jailed for two years for stealing more than £8,000 worth of items from stores across Eastleigh and Southampton.

Jamie Robert Johnson, of no fixed abode, was sentenced when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday (11 February), having pleaded guilty to all the charges against him at an earlier hearing.

Johnson was imprisoned after admitting 67 offences at various shops between Wednesday 7 August and Monday 23 December.

The stores who were victims of Johnson’s offending included Co-op, Tesco, Boots and Marks & Spencer.

The total value of all the items Johnson stole over a four-month period was £8,617.91.

As well as the time he will now spend behind bars, Johnson will also begin a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) upon his release from prison.

The conditions of the CBO will be as follows;

• Not to enter Eastleigh town centre, including Swan Centre
• Not to enter any Co-Op in Hampshire
• Must leave any store or business premises immediately when asked to do so by a member of staff
• Must place items you wish to purchase in a basket or trolley provided by the store until you have purchased the items and the basket/trolley must be left behind

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

PC Ben Pollicott, from Southampton North Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I am very pleased to see Johnson held accountable for his actions and placed behind bars.

“The time he will now spend in prison will offer the stores, who were victims of his offending, a prolonged period of protection from any further thefts at his hands.

“And, when Johnson is released, the Criminal Behaviour Behaviour will afford these stores continued protection against any further losses as a result of his criminality.”

Reflecting further on the CBO and its conditions, PC Pollicott, said: “Johnson has continually targeted shops across the district, stealing all manner of 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 him.

“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 okay.

“We want to stop this criminality, 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 Johnson, and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.”

If you are a shop owner or staff member, please continue to report any shopliftings to us.

You can do this by calling 101, or by reporting online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.

Report a crime | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or via the below link;

Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers

With your information, we can take action, including arresting and charging suspects and convicting offenders at court, as the above again demonstrates.