A PROLIFIC shoplifter who repeatedly targeted Reading stores has been jailed.
James Peter Hook, aged 49 and of no fixed address, was sentenced on Wednesday at Reading Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to 14 shoplifting offences at Co-op stores between May 18 and June 15 .
Hook was handed a sentence of 26 weeks’ imprisonment, however due to continued offending, a previous 26-week suspended sentence–for 22 earlier thefts–was activated and ordered to run consecutively.
The court also imposed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order, banning Hook from entering a number of major stores across Reading and nearby areas, and placing strict conditions on his behaviour in shops.
This brought his total time behind bars to 12 months.
PC Vince Moore, from the West Berkshire Operation Purchase Retail Crime Team, said: “Hook was given a chance to stay out of prison, but within days he was back to his old habits.
“Thanks to close working with local stores, we were able to act quickly and bring him back before the courts.
“This result shows that persistent shoplifting won’t be ignored, and if you keep offending, you can expect to face the consequences.”
