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A thief has received a two-year ban from parts of Margate’s shopping areas due to his prolific stealing.
Earlier this year, Lewis Collard, of High Street, Margate, appeared in court charged with stealing from a shop on 12 January. He admitted the charge, along with failing to attend a bail appointment and on 4 March was sentenced to a six month conditional discharge.
As part of the case, Kent Police applied for a criminal behaviour order with a report which showed the 31-year-old had been charged with 20 shoplifting offences as well as burglary and criminal damage offences between August 2022 and January 2024.
At Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 24 October 2024, the two-year order was granted.
Collard is banned from entering College Walk, Aldi in Zion Place and Boots in the High Street – unless collecting a prescription.
He has also been prohibited from associating with another named person for any reason in a public place.
If he breaches the order, he will be arrested and brought back to court.
Sergeant Daniel Bartlett said:
‘We understand that shoplifting can have a negative effect on victims as well as the wider community. So once a shoplifter is caught, officers’ work goes further than the charge – we look at what else can be done to deter repeat offending. Gathering evidence to support a criminal behaviour order is one method and it will legally prevent a person from entering locations they are known or likely to steal from. 'We hope that the order imposed on Lewis Collard will help the community feel reassured that we take their concerns seriously and that we will not tolerate such criminal activity.’