A persistent shoplifter who targeted a number of stores during a two-week crime spree has been jailed.
Wayne Haywood, aged 38, brazenly walked into convenience stores, chemists and other shops in Clifton and The Meadows to swipe items from the shelves.
He filled bags or shopping baskets with nappies, laundry products, toiletries, meat and other items before leaving without paying.
Police identified Haywood using CCTV footage and officers worked closely with the stores involved to charge him with 11 counts of shoplifting.
Haywood, of no fixed abode, was locked up for 16 weeks when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (27 March).
The offences took place between 8 and 20 March 2023 with Haywood stealing goods totalling around £900.
He targeted the Boots store in Southchurch Drive, Clifton, on three occasions within 24 hours from 8 to 9 March in order to steal nappies, moisturising creams and skincare products.
Two days later, Haywood walked into the nearby Wilkinson store and filled a carrier bag with laundry products.
He also stole detergent from the Co-op at the Bridgeway Centre, The Meadows, on 15 March and returned to Boots to steal more items on 14 and 15 March.
On 16 March he filled a bag with laundry products at the Clifton convenience store and also stole from a Family shopper, at the Bridgeway Centre, on 18 March.
He returned to the Co-op and Boots stores for further raids on 19 and 20 March.
Inspector Karl Thomas, district commander for Nottingham South, which includes Clifton and The Meadows, said: “Haywood is a prolific shoplifter who has caused serious issues for a number of local stores.
“He has repeatedly walked into shops and made no attempt to hide the fact he was grabbing items from shelves and leaving without paying.
“I am pleased the court has given him a custodial sentence and hope this sends a clear message that we take shoplifting and associated crime very seriously.
“We work closely with businesses and our partners to ensure the shops which serve our communities are places which people want to visit in order to spend their money.
“We know that a disproportionate number of shop thefts are committed by a relatively small group of persistent offenders like Haywood.
“By targeting those people and working with local businesses we are already seeing some very promising results.
“I’d like to thank all the police teams involved for their diligent work on this investigation.”
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