Man sentenced for Shrewsbury store thefts

A Shrewsbury shoplifter has been banned from a number of stores in the town after he was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Gareth Higgins, aged 45, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of 11 counts of theft at Telford Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 18 February for which he was sentenced to six months in prison.

The CBO was granted on the conviction of the thefts. It lasts for two years and means he is prohibited from entering any of the following retail premises in Shrewsbury:

B&M on Brixton Way, Farmfoods on Brixton Way, Poundstretcher on Brixton Way, The Range on Sundrone Retail Park, B&Q on Featherbed Lane, Tesco Extra on Battlefield Road, Lidl on Whitchurch Road, Co-op on Mount Pleasant Road and Charlies Stores Ltd on Arrow Point Retail Park

The order also states that Higgins must not behave in an aggressive manner towards retail staff, or in anyway that could cause alarm or distress. Refusing to leave a premises when asked by someone who has authority to do so.

PC Megan Brice said: “Higgins is a well-known shoplifter around Shrewsbury whose actions have impacted retailers and members of the public.

“We hope this prison term and CBO will serve to protect the stores he has targeted and help reassure businesses that we continue to take retail crime seriously.

“Higgins’ offending will not be tolerated, and we will seek to continue to bring criminals to justice.”

Higgins' CBO will be in place until February 2028.