Serial shoplifter Raymond Canham who plagued Newark’s stores to spend Christmas in prison
A shoplifter who plagued the town’s shops — stealing items including meat and dishwasher tablets — has been jailed once again.
Raymond Canham, of Tolney Lane, Newark, will spend his Christmas in prison thanks to his latest stealing spree, which follows two separate stints behind bars over the summer.
Fresh from receiving a custodial sentence in June, the renowned shoplifter carried on stealing when he was out, so was jailed for eight more weeks in July.
The 51-year-old didn’t learn his lesson following his latest spell behind bars however, and instead deciding to go on another stealing spree.
Canham filled his pockets with items during six separate thefts across September and October, at Bowbridge Road Co-Op, Albert Street Co-op, B and M on Victoria Street, and Home Bargains at Northgate Retail Park.
He then returned to three of the stores again and carried out six more shop thefts between November 13 and December 1, making off with a selection of stolen meat products, cheese, butter, and dishwasher tablets.
Officers investigating the series of thefts found Canham’s face plastered all over the footage when they reviewed in-store CCTV.
He was then tracked down by Newark's neighbourhood policing team, and the shoplifter was charged with 12 separate counts of shop theft.
Canham pleaded guilty to each of the offences when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (December 10).
He was sentenced that same day to 20 weeks in prison.
PC Laura Marriott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "It is pleasing to know that Canham will be away from Newark's shops for the duration of the Christmas period.
"He has several times now continued to flout the rules by stealing items that don't belong to him, despite being jailed before for other similar offences.
"Canham clearly didn't learn his lesson following his previous spell behind bars, instead choosing to shoplift again within weeks of being released from prison.
"That decision to pocket items without paying for them is incredibly disrespectful to those who do the right thing and spend their hard-earned money on their shopping.
"We can only hope that Canham's latest custodial sentence provides him with the wakeup call that he clearly needs."
