A shoplifter has been jailed for a year and had his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) extended after he stole from a store in Farnborough.

Richard Burns, 43, of Victoria Road, Farnborough, stole whiskey and food worth £120 from Asda in Farnborough on Wednesday 3 December.

He pleaded guilty to theft from a shop and was jailed for 12 months on 23 December after a suspended sentence order was activated.

His CBO was also extended for two years following the hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates Court. It means he is banned from entering all Waitrose and Sainsbury’s stores in England and Wales, as well as Tesco and Bargain Buys in Aldershot until December 2028.

He must also place all items into baskets or trolleys and leave a business premises immediately if asked to do so.

PC Nilam Rai, from Farnborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Richard Burns is a prolific shoplifter, and his actions have had a huge impact on businesses, staff and the wider community.

“We take all reports of shoplifting extremely seriously and I hope this result reassures the local community that we will do all we can to put offenders before the courts.

“Local policing teams put in a lot of work to support our communities, disrupt habitual offenders, and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.”

Shop owners and staff are urged to continue reporting all incidents of shoplifting so police can take action, including making arrests and bringing offenders before the courts.

Reports can be made by calling 101 or online via the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website. Anyone witnessing a crime in progress should call 999 immediately.