A WOODLEY man has been given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for five years after he was convicted of shoplifting offences.
Oswald Walker, aged 37 and of Woodlands Court, Woodley, was convicted on Monday, October 13, of theft by shoplifting, in a hearing at Slough Magistrates’ Court.
Walker had been engaging in a large number of shoplifting offences with others, targeting the Whitley area, affecting both Co-op stores and Tesco Express.
His offending caused alarm and distress to store workers and other staff.
Walker was arrested on April 1 and was charged with shoplifting on August 9.
Slough Magistrates’ Court found that Walker had acted in an antisocial manner, which caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Under the terms of the CBO, Walker has been prohibited from entering enter Co-op and Tesco stores in the Reading area.
He has also been banned from being in the Whitley area of Reading, bounded by Basingstoke Road, Christchurch Road, Shinfield Road, Whitley Wood Road and Whitley Wood Lane.
The CBO has also prohibited Walker from wearing face coverings in shops and he has been ordered not to wear hoods up that would conceal his face in the Reading area, and to leave a shop when directed by any staff member.
The order will remain in place until October 2030.
PC Jonathan Bowness of the Whitley Neighbourhood Team, said: “Walker’s behaviour has been a scourge in the local community, and he has relentlessly targeted stores along with others, stealing property and causing alarm and distress.
“I am pleased that he has received a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order, which he must comply with or risk being sent to prison.
“We will not tolerate shoplifting in our business community. It is not a victimless crime and Walker’s criminality has now been dealt with by way of this CBO.
“We are committed to tackling this type of offending and will work tirelessly to put offenders before the courts.”
