Lancaster man jailed for 32 weeks for shoplifting and assault

James Donnelly, of Crossdale Square, was found guilty of four shopliftings, one battery assault and three breaches of his restraining order.

The courts heard that Donnelly continued to target a specific retail shop in the city, stealing from them on three occasions over three days in November and on one occasion pushing a female shopkeeper out of the way to make his escape.

Donnelly had previously, on October 11, been given a restraining order from the same court to protect the members of staff from the shop after he also threatened to attack them in the past with a knife.

Donnelly was therefore also in breach of his restraining order.

As well as sending Donnelly to prison, the courts agreed with Lancaster police and issued a Criminal Behaviour Order for three years. This order prohibits him from entering any store within Lancaster city centre, as well as the Spar in Greaves Road, the Co-op in Quernmore Road and Bargain Booze in Lentworth Drive, for any reason.

PC Shaun Foster, the city centre Neighbourhood officer, said: “Through our work under Op Vulture we will relentlessly target those prolific shoplifters who cause misery for the businesses in our city and put them before the courts at every opportunity.

"Although there are many reasons people shoplift, including addictions, this is no excuse. Help is offered and available by our partner agencies. It is not acceptable that those shop keepers who are just trying to earn a living have to put up with it on a daily basis, especially when they are threatened with violence.

"I am happy the courts have issued a court order on Donnelly, which will make it easier for us to stop him committing further thefts and allow us to quickly arrest and remand him to court if he doesn’t change his ways.”