Prolific West Sussex Shoplifter Jailed After String Of Thefts

A prolific shoplifter who repeatedly targeted stores across West Sussex has been jailed.

Bradie Thomson carried out a string of thefts in Worthing and surrounding areas, despite receiving a suspended sentence in November last year.

The 37-year-old continued offending in breach of that order and was sentenced to six months in prison at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 9 February.

Thomson, who is of no fixed address, admitted eight shop thefts and one count of burglary other than a dwelling.

The court heard he was linked to a number of further offences between July and August last year.

These included stealing from the Co-op in Portland Road, Hove, on 14 July, and from Sainsbury’s in Littlehampton Road, Worthing, on 10 August.

He returned to the same Sainsbury’s store again on 16 August.

Further offences were committed on 6 and 8 December at the Co-op in Rowlands Road, Worthing.

On 9 December, he burgled the Co-op in Test Road, Sompting, before going on to steal from the Co-op and from Iceland in Angmering on 30 January this year.

Thomson has 58 previous convictions for 209 offences, more than half of which are theft-related.

As part of the sentence, he was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order.

The order bans him from entering any Co-op store in Sussex and any Sainsbury’s store in West Sussex for five years.

He is also prohibited from entering stores with certain named individuals and must leave any retail premises immediately if asked to do so by staff, a manager or a business owner.

Adur and Worthing District Commander Chief Inspector James Davidson said officers have been focusing efforts on tackling repeat offenders.

He said police work closely with businesses to address shoplifting and understand the impact it has on retail staff and the wider community.

Chief Inspector Davidson added that Thomson was a persistent offender and officers welcomed the custodial sentence.