NORWICH PROLIFIC SHOPLIFTER CHRISTOPHER STEVENSON JAILED
One of Norwich’s most prolific shoplifters who repeatedly ignored bans on entering shops has been jailed.Chrisopher Stevenson, 42, who is also subject to sex offender registration requirements, persistently targeted the same stores time and again.
His incessant crime wave continued despite court orders preventing him from entering retail premises across Norfolk.
Stevenson, of no fixed abode but formerly of Lound Road, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to 18 offences including 12 shop thefts between November and January and six breaches of a Crime Behaviour Order (CBO).
His offences included walking out of branches of the Co-Op on Dereham Road and Hall Road, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s with nearly £1,000 worth of goods including chocolate, bottles of wine, and meat.
Many of the thefts, which also involved vinyl records from Urban Outfitters in Chantry Place, happened multiple times on the same day.
He has almost 100 convictions for shop thefts, and the latest offences were carried out while on bail.
He also admitted breaching sex offender notification requirements by not registering his whereabouts.
Lucy Brakewell, mitigating, stated he was struggling with heroin addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues, and was stealing to fund his lifestyle.
Addressing magistrates, Stevenson said, “I’m not in a good place - I need help.” The court jailed him for 12 months and decided against ordering compensation due to already having £4,000 in fines that would take decades to pay off.
