Two Shoplifters Sentenced to Prison and Retail Bans

In separate court appearances on Thursday, two prolific shoplifters received lengthy prison sentences and nationwide bans from major retail chains after admitting to repeated thefts that targeted stores across England.

Joseph Mills, 34, of no fixed abode in Northampton, was sentenced to 31 months in prison at Northampton Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to 37 counts of theft from shops between June 7 and October 14, 2025, along with 27 counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order and one count of assault by beating. Court records show Mills had been issued a three-year criminal behaviour order in September 2024 by magistrates, prohibiting him from entering two specific branches of Tesco Express and a Co-op in Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Despite this, and following a four-month prison term for 11 prior offences, he continued his spree, stealing from those locations as well as One Stop and Heron Foods stores. Items taken included wine, confectionery, detergent and washing liquid, with his largest single theft valued at 356.20 in alcohol and sweets from a One Stop on August 24. Many other hauls had unknown values. Recorder Geoffrey Kelly handed down the sentence, emphasizing the...