Two shoplifters have been jailed following thefts in St Albans.
Harry Ventham (pictured left), 35, was given a prison sentence at Hatfield Remand Court on Monday, June 23, for six separate shoplifting offences in St Albans.
Ventham, from Luton, but of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the offences which happened earlier this month at the Co-op in London Road and the BP garage in Luton Road, Harpenden.
Over 10 days, between Thursday, June 5, and Sunday, June 15, he was arrested on six separate occasions by St Albans neighbourhood team officers. Five times for stealing food and alcohol from the Co-op, and on June 15, he stole from Townsend Service Station in Luton Road as well as the Co-op.
He was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment for each offence to run consecutively, totalling 24 weeks. He was also ordered to pay £243.15 to the Co-op, £225 to the BP garage, a victim surcharge of £154 and court costs of £85. He was previously on a suspended sentence.
A second man, Marc Harwood (pictured right), 25, of Bembridge Gardens in Luton, was arrested on Tuesday, June 17, for three thefts on three consecutive days from the BP garage in Luton Road in Harpenden. He was sentenced on Wednesday, June 18, at Luton Magistrates’ Court.
He was given a two-week custodial sentence for each theft to run consecutively. He was also imprisoned for a further 18 weeks due to being on a suspended sentence, making a total of 24 weeks in jail.
Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Caro said: “Ventham has targeted the Co-op in London Road on several occasions with the sole intention of shoplifting. The court took a dim view of the fact that he had been arrested several times over just a few days and was on a suspended sentence. His previous offending was also taken into consideration.
“Harwood stole from the BP garage three times in three days and also had a suspended sentence.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, impacting not only the stores and their employees, but also leads to an increase in prices for all. Shoplifting continues to be a priority in the St Albans district.”
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