Arrogant Nottingham Shop Thief Jailed

An arrogant Nottingham shop thief has been jailed for repeatedly plundering a local supermarket.

Patrick Butler, 43, of Leiston Gardens, Bestwood Park, admitted 27 offences of shop theft when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 13th June 2024.

He also admitted an offence of failing to surrender to custody.

Theft is an offence under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968. Shop theft of items under the value of £200 is dealt with as a summary offence, with the maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine. We have previously written an article on the legalities surrounding theft.

Magistrates heard that Butler repeatedly targeted the same Co-op store on Beckhampton Road, Nottingham.

Each time he would walk into the shop, fill a carrier bag and walk out without making any offer of payment.

Butler was so brazen in his offending, that he would often steal from the store multiple times on the same day.

Butler was meant to attend court on Tuesday, 12th March 2024, but failed to do so having been charged with 6 offences of shop theft. Magistrates duly issued a warrant for his arrest.

By the time police caught up with him on Wednesday, 12th June 2024, he had committed a further 21 offences.

In the past six months Butler has made off with more than £1,400 worth of goods from the Beckenham Road store.

Magistrates were of the view that Butler's offences, when considered in totality, were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

He was sentenced to 12 months immediate custody.

He was also made subject to a criminal behaviour order, which prohibits him from entering the store for any reason for the next two years.

Sergeant Katie Taylor, of Nottinghamshire Police's Bestwood neighbourhood policing team, said: "Patrick Butler has been a pest to the Bestwood community for some time now - especially those working at the local Co-op.

"On no less than 27 separate occasions, he walked into the shop with the sole purpose of helping himself to items without ever intending to pay for them.

"Despite our officers catching Butler and charging him with the first six thefts, he then decided not to bother showing up to court to answer for what he'd done, but went into hiding instead.

"Not content with this, he then went on to steal from the same store again and again - taking around £1,400 worth of stock in the process.

"The arrogance he showed in continuing to target the same shop so many times was staggering, so we're really pleased to have been able to track him down and bring him before the courts.

"We fully understand how much of a negative impact shoplifters like Butler can have on communities, which is why targeting acquisitive crimes such as this remains one of our policing priorities for the city north area.

"Shoplifting offences are a blight on the community, and are unfair on shoppers who spend their hard-earned money on items.

"We're really pleased with the court's ruling - not just the custodial sentence - as having this CBO in place means if Butler decides to repeat his offending, he will more than likely find himself behind bars again."