One-man crime wave jailed after five month shoplifting spree

A prolific shoplifter is behind bars following a five month crime spree. Paul Morris has been jailed for six and a half months after he pleaded guilty to 36 counts of theft.

Chester magistrates' court heard that the 36-year-old regularly Morris repeatedly targeted Coop stores in his home town of Warrington. In 28 thefts between January 25 and Friday June 14, he stole a total of £3,739.75 worth of goods from the Co-op plus six other shops.

Morris was identified as the main suspect after police compiled a collection of CCTV footage that showed him carrying out the thefts.

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His crime spree came to an end on Friday, June 14, when he attempted to steal a trolley of meat from a Lidl store on Old Liverpool Road, Warrington, and was stopped by staff. Following his arrest, Morris refused to leave his cell in order to be interviewed by officers.

Morris, of Rossall Road, Great Sankey, was also issued with £1000 fine and a five-year criminal behaviour order that will activate immediately upon his release.

Following the sentencing Pc Andy Rowley said: "Paul Morris is a habitual and prolific shoplifter who caused no end of misery to the retailers of Warrington during his nearly five-month crime spree. During that period between January and June, Morris accumulated over £3,700 worth of stolen goods through the deliberate targeting of nine stores across Warrington and CCTV footage gathered by our officers clearly identified him as the main suspect in all 36 instances.

"Upon his release from prison, Morris will be the subject to a five-year criminal behaviour order, designed to deter any further offending. Should he fail to comply with the