‘Prolific’ shoplifters jailed

A ‘PROLIFIC shoplifter’ has been jailed for stealing £38.60 worth of food from a Sainsbury’s in Aldershot.

Michael Hanton, 35, of Longacre, in Ash, stole cheese, butter, cooked meats and bakery goods from the store.

He has since been jailed for more than five months for the theft, which took place in Ash Road on Saturday March 25 last year.

Hanton was charged in April last year with theft from the shop and later pleaded guilty after a number of court appearances. He was jailed for 24 weeks when he appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday last week after a suspended sentence order was activated.

Hanton was described by police as a ‘prolific shoplifter’ that had a huge impact on the community.

Rushmoor Inspector Mike Hall, said: “Michael Hanton is a prolific shoplifter whose behaviour has impacted our local businesses, shop workers and the wider community.

“Our officers have worked hard to bring this case before the courts and I hope this sentencing result sends a message to offenders that shoplifting will not be tolerated in Aldershot and the wider area.”

In another sentencing last week, a woman from Farnham was jailed for eight months after breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and stealing items worth more than £550 from shops in Aldershot. Abbie Folkes, 31, of East Street, was charged with six counts of theft from a shop and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.

The police was alerted after items including bedding, household products and food worth £588.40 were stolen from Bargain Buys, Co-op and Lidl.

Folkes admitted stealing the items on six separate occasions between February 23 and 29. She also pleaded guilty to breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order, which banned her from entering Aldershot until December 2028.

Folkes was jailed for eight months when she appeared before Basingstoke magistrates on Monday last week.

Police Sergeant Rob Tiller, from the Aldershot Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Abbie Folkes is a prolific shoplifter who stole a significant amount of items from a number of stores in Aldershot.

“A Criminal Behaviour Order was imposed last year, which banned her from entering Aldershot for five years, but she brazenly ignored this and continued to visit the area to commit crime.”