Doncaster shoplifter stole more than £3,800 of electrical goods from Boots

Ricky Bell was on bail for theft when he stole teeth-whitening kits, breast pumps, baby monitors, beard-trimmers and electric toothbrushes from shops in Doncaster, between March 23 and June 17.

Prosecutor Beverley Wright said he was arrested and released on bail again at 2pm, on April 4, but by 3pm had stolen £646 of items from Boots, in the Frenchgate shopping centre.

In every one of the 13 thefts he went straight to the shops' electrical departments and de-tagged items.

The court heard Bell has 15 previous convictions, and had recently been released from his third prison sentence when he began stealing again.

Cheryl Dudley, mitigating, said Bell was ashamed of how he behaved.

Bell, 31, of Rainford Square, Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft, on September 11.

Judge Graham Reeds QC told him: "There's no mitigation. This was stealing to order, to sell on quickly.

"I can see no evidence you are likely to rehabilitate yourself if you are given the opportunity. You chose to go out and commit all these offences during lockdown. Your offending was easier because there were fewer staff around to prevent it.

"All of the offences were shown on CCTV. It demonstrates your fear of being caught was low. You believed you could steal what you wanted, when you wanted."

He sentenced Bell to 66 weeks in prison. He will serve up to half in custody and the rest on licence.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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