A prolific thief was brought before the courts after being spotted and chased by police.
Officers from the county priority tasking team were on patrol in Sutton-in-Ashfield when they saw Adam Spencer.
Realising Spencer was wanted for a series of burglaries and shop thefts, they tried to arrest him at the roadside in Lammas Road.
After getting on his pushbike and trying to cycle away, the 40-year-old didn’t get far before the officers running after him caught up.
Spencer was recognised by the officers on Tuesday (28 May), as the county priority tasking team were investigating him at that point for multiple offences against shops.
Two of these took place in the early hours of the same morning on 2 May, with Spencer burgling an Iceland, in Priestsic Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield.
After breaking in through a back door at 2.40am and stealing meat products, the thief then returned around 4.20am and stole more than £300 worth of stock.
Either side of these two burglaries, Spencer also helped himself to items from three other stores in Sutton-in-Ashfield during a series of shop thefts.
The first happened on 11 April at Tesco, in Alfreton Road, with the shoplifter then targeting the Priestsic Road-based Asda and Iceland stores on 17 April and 19 May.
He took 17 pots of Pringles during one of the thefts, which Spencer later admitted to when questioned by police – telling them “once you pop, you can’t stop”.
Spencer pleaded guilty to two burglaries and three thefts when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (29 May).
He was sentenced the same day – receiving a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
Spencer, of Northfield Close, Sutton-in-Ashfield, was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation and complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement programme.
PC Dean Fenton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The actions of prolific thieves like Spencer can have a really negative impact on communities, who don’t want to see their stores targeted again and again.
“Shoplifting isn’t a victimless crime. These offences hurt businesses, affect people’s livelihoods, and can ultimately result in shoppers having to pay more for items as prices go up as a result.
“Burglary is also a very serious offence, so we were pleased to be able to link Spencer to the two he was involved in, as well as the shop thefts, and put him before the courts.”
