A judge has offered some respite to village stores after banning a serial shoplifter from entering the respective premises for five years.

The prohibition was imposed on Simon Marcus Freeman after his six-week spree earlier this year.

Freeman was said to have brazenly entered the shops, carrying a large bag over his shoulder, which he simply filled with items selected from display shelves, before each time walking out without offering payment.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Co-op stores in neighbouring villages of Ushaw Moor and Esh Winning, a branch of McColl’s at Auton Stile, in nearby Bearpark, and Savers Health and Beauty in Durham city centre were targeted in the spate of offending between April 8 and May 20.

Among goods stolen by Freeman were laundry items, various foodstuffs, air fresheners, ice cream, coffee and chocolate, totalling £786.

The 33-year-old defendant, of Prince Charles Avenue, Bowburn, was arrested after cctv was studied from the shops, some clearly featuring Freeman, dressed almost identically, captured in the act.

Having appeared over video link from custody in Durham Prison, he admitted five counts of theft over two recent hearings after electing to take the case to trial at the city’s crown court.

On his return, produced at the court for a sentencing hearing today (Friday July 8), he also asked a schedule of four further theft offences to be taken into consideration.

Read more: Man views CCTV at Ushaw Moor Co-op - and then admits he was the shoplifter

The court heard he has 47 convictions for 106 offences on a record featuring 36 past cases of shoplifting, all committed over the last 20 years.

Most recently he has served a ten-week prison sentence for theft, and since his arrest for the latest bout of offending he has been in custody for more than five weeks.

Freeman, who has represented himself during the hearings, told the court he returned to County Durham earlier this year from Portsmouth, in Hampshire, where he has been living in recent years, specifically to visit a relative, and has had money difficulties, so resorted to shoplifting.

But he confirmed that following his release from custody he plans to head back to Portsmouth.

A probation report said given his “chaotic lifestyle” he would be helped by some structured assistance to address his offending.

The probation officer delivering the report said if he returned to Portsmouth the Probation Service in Hampshire could oversee any programme put in place.

Recorder Christopher Rose told Freeman: “The offences cover a period of more than a month in which you were up in the North East.

“It appears that on some occasions you were challenged by staff and with others your actions were recorded on camera.

“It’s self-evident your offending will have caused these businesses a great deal of financial loss and a great deal of frustration for staff.”

Passing a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, Recorder Rose said during that time Freeman must complete 30 probation-overseen rehabilitation activity days and perform 200 hours’ unpaid work.

Freeman was also made subject of a restraining order, prohibiting him from visiting the targeted stores for five years.

Recorder Rose added: “You tell me you are imminently going to return to the Hampshire area, so it may not impinge too much on yourself, but I’ll provide these businesses with some assurance you won’t be going back to their premises.”

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