Police secured nearly 16 years in custodial sentences for South Shields shoplifters in 2025
Northumbria Police tackled retail criminality head on in South Shields during 2025.
Over the course of 2025, Northumbria Police secured a total of almost 16 years in custodial sentences for shoplifters impacting South Shields businesses.
That total includes 33 offenders, 362 individual charges, 20 community orders, and one Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), with 15.84 years behind bars has been handed down to shoplifters.
Police carried out increased patrols, community engagement, and worked closely with South Tyneside’s staff and retailers to gather the evidence to help bring offenders to justice.
Of the 33 offenders, those with the largest number of charges and sentences in 2025 were:
- Christopher Sharp, 39 - jailed for one year and nine months last year for 27 charges, including shoplifting.
- Dillon Lawson, 30 - jailed for one year and four months last year for 34 charges, including shoplifting.
- Jordan Martin, 31 - jailed for one year and three months last year for 26 charges, including shoplifting and breaching a CBO.
- Amanda Liddle, 41 - jailed for eight months last year for 24 charges, including shoplifting.
Chief Inspector Phil Baker has praised the efforts of South Tyneside’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) for their efforts over the course of 2025.
He said: “This is a great outcome and demonstrates our commitment as a Force to addressing the things we know are creating issues within our communities.
“We will continue to build on this good work to create the safest possible environment for people to visit and do business in South Tyneside.
“Having extra eyes and ears in the community is invaluable and helps us build a picture of the criminals operating in the area and ultimately bring them to a halt.
“We’d encourage anyone who witnesses anything suspicious in their community to report it to us via direct message on social media, instant chat on our website, or submit a form online.
“That way, we can carry out the necessary enquiries and ensure every effort is being made to keep you safe.”