Four prolific West Sussex shop thieves jailed following police crackdown

Four prolific shoplifters operating across West Sussex have been jailed after a targeted police operation to tackle repeat retail crime. The offenders were sentenced following investigations carried out by Sussex Police as part of Operation Apprentice, which brings together officers, retailers, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships and local authorities to identify and prosecute the most persistent […]

Four prolific shoplifters operating across West Sussex have been jailed after a targeted police operation to tackle repeat retail crime.

The offenders were sentenced following investigations carried out by Sussex Police as part of Operation Apprentice, which brings together officers, retailers, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships and local authorities to identify and prosecute the most persistent shop theft offenders.

In recent weeks the work has resulted in significant custodial sentences for four individuals responsible for dozens of thefts across the county.

Ryan Breach, 36, of no fixed address, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 23 February where he admitted 13 shop theft offences as well as eight breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. His offending took place between October and December and included repeated thefts from shops in Worthing.

Among the incidents were the theft of medicine worth £205 from Savers in Montague Street on 3 November, protein powder from Holland & Barrett on 25 October, and Lego products valued at £360 from Morrisons in Newland Street on 17 November. Breach was jailed for 16 months.

Alex Nash, 33, of Lyon Street West, Bognor Regis, was sentenced at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 20 February after admitting 22 shop thefts, 12 breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order and possession of class B and class C drugs.

His offences included repeated thefts from a Tesco Express store in Aldwick Road, Bognor Regis, which he targeted 15 times between January and February, including four incidents in a single day. Nash also stole goods from other stores including the Co-op in Chichester Road. He was jailed for 10 months and ordered to pay compensation.

Joshua Frasier, 31, also of no fixed address, admitted 21 shop theft offences committed in Crawley between October and January when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 25 February.

These included multiple thefts of clothing from TK Maxx as well as offences at Sainsbury’s, Tesco and the Co-op. Frasier was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Max Huggett, 34, of Steyning Close, Northgate, admitted 17 shop theft offences along with 17 breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. His offending occurred between October and January and involved repeated thefts from the Co-op in Langley Green as well as a further theft at Tesco in Hyde Drive.

He was sentenced to three months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on 9 March.

Chief Inspector James Davidson said shop theft has a significant impact on retail workers and the wider community.

He said police are continuing to work with businesses and partners to prevent retail crime and ensure repeat offenders are brought before the courts. He also encouraged businesses and members of the public to report incidents to police online or via 101, and to call 999 in emergencies.