35 Year Old Shoplifter Sentenced After Latest Crime Spree In Sussex

Sussex Police

A serial shoplifter who stole more items worth more than £1,800 in his latest crime spree has been jailed.

Adam Gibbs was the subject of a suspended prison sentence imposed in December last year for repeated thefts in Worthing.

Yet the 35-year-old continued to target stores in the town.

He stole items ranging from topside of beef and ribeye steaks, vodka, whisky and rum, and TRESemme shampoo, to Lurpak butter, electric toothbrushes, and Yankee Candles.

Gibbs, of Ivy Arch Road, Gaisford, appeared before Lewes Crown Court on 5 May where he admitted 22 new shop thefts and 15 breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and a new Criminal Behaviour Order was imposed which bans him from entering all Co-op stores, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer, Boots, Tesco, Holland & Barrett, Savers, B&M Bargains, H&M, and Morrisons stores in West Sussex, and from entering the Guildbourne Centre in Worthing.

The court was told how his latest spate of offences ranged from December last year to January this year, in breach of a suspended sentence.

In total Gibbs took items worth more than £1,800.

He was arrested following investigation by officers from the Worthing Response Investigation Team who had identified him as a prolific offender as part of Operation Apprentice.

Speaking after the case, Chief Inspector James Davidson said:

“Gibbs has been a serial shoplifter who has repeatedly ignored court orders. He has been convicted of more than 60 theft offences since the start of 2025, so the RIT team were determined to arrest him and build a strong case against him.

“Retail crime is a priority for us, and we understand the concern it causes in our communities and for staff.

Through Operation Apprentice we are working alongside businesses and partners to ensure offences are reported quickly to us and allowing us to build strong cases against offenders like Gibbs.

“This ensures we can present evidence in court and secure convictions. In this case I am pleased that a prolific offender is now serving a custodial sentence.”