Thief is banned from stepping foot in supermarket store after latest court appearance

Jason Button
By Jason Button
Published 27th Mar 2023, 14:18 BST
Updated 27th Mar 2023, 14:19 BST
Gary Pickering, 49, has regularly targeted shops in the past few years in the Northumberland area.Gary Pickering, 49, has regularly targeted shops in the past few years in the Northumberland area.
Gary Pickering, 49, has regularly targeted shops in the past few years in the Northumberland area.
Northumberland shops were targeted regularly and the case was heard in Bedlington.

A serial thief has been banned from stepping foot inside a supermarket due to his prolific offending.

Gary Pickering, 49, has regularly targeted shops in the past few years in the Northumberland area.

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Officers from Northumbria Police arrested Pickering after he stole items including meat and coffee, on 11 different occasions from the Co-op store on Avenue Road, in Seaton Delaval, between January 5 and March 1.

Appearing before magistrates in Bedlington on Friday, March 17, Pickering, of Kearsley Close in Seaton Delaval, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft.

Magistrates banned him from entering the Co-op store in Seaton Delaval for 18 months and he was ordered to carry out a drug rehabilitation programme and pay £1,387.22 in compensation.

He was also subjected to a 18-month community order and was ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.

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PC Michael Gair, of Northumbria Police, said: “Pickering has been a persistent offender in Northumberland and we are pleased that restrictions have now been placed upon him to curb his offending.

“Shoplifting is increasingly being dealt with by security at the shops themselves, but this shows that we will still take robust action against those who persistently reoffend and show a total disregard to those who live and work in our communities.”

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