Man Sentenced After Stealing Goods From Supermarket In East Grinstead

A man who stole more than £1,200 worth of goods from Marks & Spencer in East Grinstead has been given a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Jamie Hendey targeted the store in London Road on 11 separate occasions between 12 April and 18 May, stripping the shelves of items including meat and alcohol.

But he was identified after video footage of one of the offences was posted on social media, and he was subsequently arrested on Tuesday 20 May.

Hendey, 31, of London Road, East Grinstead, was charged with 11 counts of shoplifting and remanded in custody to appear before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 22 May.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order which lasts for three years and prohibits him from entering the same M&S store, and must comply with a drug rehabilitation programme for the next six months.

Imran Asghar, Superintendent for Crawley and Mid Sussex, said:

“Shoplifting will absolutely not be tolerated in Sussex, irrespective of an individual’s circumstances.

“My officers and staff worked tirelessly to ensure the defendant was arrested as soon as we identified him from a video posted on social media.

“This conviction sends a clear message to people in Crawley and Mid Sussex that if you commit offences, we will do all we can to ensure you are brought to justice and our communities – including our business communities – remain safe.”