The Kent shoplifters convicted in March

Shoplifting continues to be at a record high with more than 2,000 incidents a day across the country, figures show. Earlier this year, it was revealed nearly half a million shoplifting offences were recorded by police in England and Wales in a year making it the highest 12-month total on record. A total of 492,914 offences were logged by forces in the year to September 2024, up 23% from 402,220 in the previous 12 months.

It comes amid warnings that shoplifting is “spiralling out of control” after a survey by the British Retail Consortium suggested there were more than 2,000 incidents a day, with staff facing assault, being threatened with weapons, and racial and sexual abuse. In Kent, hundreds of people appeared before the county’s magistrates’ courts in March with shoplifting offences. Here are just some of the thieves who were convicted: Kenny Songhurst Kenny Songhurst, of Church Road, Eastchurch, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for multiple thefts at Medway Magistrates’ Court.



The hearing was told he stole three Henry Hoovers from Tesco, three electric blankets from discount retailer B&M and £8 worth of sausages, bacon and eggs from Asda. The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of shoplifting in Rochester and Strood between February and March. He was ordered to pay £476 in compensation by August 31.

Ryan Heathcote Ryan Heathcote pleaded guilty to four counts of theft at Medway Magistrates' Court on March 15. The offences happened between February 17 and March 14 in Gillingham and Strood with the stolen goods valued at more than £500. Heathcote, of Rochester Avenue, Rochester, targeted Aldi, Iceland and B&M during his shoplifting spree.

The court heard the 37-year-old stole joints of beef, BBQ steaks and lamb legs alongside a VAX hoover and aftershave from the high street stores. He was given a concurrent sentence of 16 weeks in prison. Sheelagh Tierny Sheelagh Tierny stole miscellaneous items from the Co-Op, in Delce Road, Rochester, on January 25.

However, the 49-year-old was spared from prison after she admitted the offence at Medway Magistrates’ Court on March 11. She was given a two-month sentence suspended for 12 months as the court said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. Although the value of the stolen goods was not known, the defendant was ordered to pay £50 in compensation.

Tierny, of Fort Pitt Street, Chatham, also admitted that she refused to participate in a Class A drug test after she had been arrested for shoplifting on March 10. Her plea was taken into account and she received no separate penalty for the offence. William Whelan William Whelan also narrowly avoided jail after he admitted to stealing more than £100 worth of items from B&M in Folkestone.

The 25-year-old was given a 24-week prison term, suspended for 12 months, at Medway Magistrates’ Court on March 5. However, Whelan, of The Leas, Folkestone, was ordered to complete 15 days of drug rehabilitation activities and to pay compensation. Lordann Stan Lordann Stan was banned from every Boots store in the country for two years after he stole £275 worth of items from its branch in Edenbridge on July 6.

He also received a 21-week prison sentence from Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court, with nine weeks to be served immediately. The 21-year-old from London must also pay £276.15 in compensation.

Jason Bowers Jason Bowers was jailed for 60 days after he pleaded guilty to shoplifting £100 worth of chocolate from B&M in Queenborough. Margate Magistrates’ Court heard the 53-year-old had previous issues with drugs which was given as a reason for the custodial sentence imposed. Bowers, of London Road, Sittingbourne, was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation.

Adam Price-Stephens Adam Price-Stephens was sentenced to four weeks in prison for stealing baby items from Boots in Margate. The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at Margate Magistrates’ Court on March 3. The value of the items was not known, however, Price-Stephens, of House Drive, Minster, was ordered to pay £100 in compensation.

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