Prolific South Shields shoplifter banned from every Co-op and Sainsbury's in England and Wales

A prolific South Tyneside shoplifter has been banned from every Sainsbury’s and Co-op store in England and Wales after appearing in court to admit stealing from them 74 times.

Lewis Donnelly, 25, pinched around £5,500 of stock from two Sainsbury’s branches and one Co-op in South Shields, between June and September, a court heard.

The serial offender, of Whitehall Street, South Shields, targeted Sainsbury’s in Stanhope Road at least 47 times and its Binchester Street outlet at Simonside, about 20 times.

He swiped an estimated £3,525 of items from the Stanhope Road store, with meat, pizza, laundry products, chocolate and alcohol on his list.

From the retailer’s Binchester Street branch, he made off with an estimated £1,632 of products, including nappies, alcohol, meat and dairy produce.

And in four thefts from at the Co-op in Mortimer Road, he stole meat, shampoo and washing items, valued at £285, prosecutor Glenda Beck revealed.

At an earlier hearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Donnelly pleaded guilty to 74 counts of theft from a shop.

His latest appearance at the same court heard he had failed to attend a court-ordered assessment for an alcohol treatment programme.

He also missed an appointment with the Probation Service to compile a pre-sentence report.

Mrs Beck added: “The total value is £5,500. The question today is whether he is given a further opportunity to do an alcohol treatment requirement.”

David Forrester, defending, told District Judge Zoe Passfield the most she could impose was a suspended prison sentence under sentencing guidelines.

He said she could also adjourn again for Donnelly to be given a second chance at an alcohol assessment.

Judge Passfield told Donnelly she had intended to impose a suspended sentence but now believed he would be best served by first having an alcohol assessment.

She adjourned the case for that but warned he could be jailed when sentenced if he failed to go to the appointment.

Donnelly will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, November 24, and was bailed on condition he does not enter any Sainsbury’s or Co-op in England and Wales.

He must also report at South Shields police station between 11am and 5pm on Wednesdays.