December 20, 2019 1.16 pm This story is over 51 months old

Prolific Grimsby offender ignores town centre ban to commit more thefts

He has now been jailed

John Cooper has been jailed for three months. | Photo: Humberside Police

A 34-year-old man has been jailed for three months after breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order to commit more thefts in Grimsby.

John Cooper, of no fixed abode, received a CBO after a series of shop thefts in Grimsby, which prevented him from coming into the town centre. He ignored the conditions on a number of occasions and also started to re-offend.

Cooper was charged with four counts of breaching the CBO in November and received a Community Order. He was arrested again last week and charged with a further eight breaches, as well as three counts of theft.

He was sentenced to three months in prison on Wednesday, December 18.

Grimsby West Neighbourhoods Inspector Martin Hopper said: “As part of the Town Centre Community Safety Plan our objectives are to pursue prolific offenders who commit crime and ASB in the town centre.

“John Cooper is one of those offenders. He persistently targeted shops in the town centre and in Freshney Place shopping centre on lots of occasions and flagrantly ignored the conditions of his CBO.

“That disregard for those conditions has now landed him behind bars.

“I want to thank my officers who dealt with John Cooper proactively and for their perseverance, and to the staff from shops in the town centre and Freshney Place for their assistance.

“It sends a clear message to him that he is not welcome in Grimsby town centre, and also to the public that we will catch those individuals who cause problems in our town and will deal with them appropriately.”