Prolific thief jailed after targeting B&M 14 times while on a suspended sentence
A prolific Shrewsbury thief has been jailed for eight months after stealing more than £4,000 from a B&M store after targeting the branch on 14 separate occasions
James Kevin Taylor, 29, of Worcester Road, also store from the local Asda Express and Farm Foods stores in Shrewsbury during shoplifting spree that lasted from November 2023 to February 2024.
Kidderminster Magistrates were told on Saturday that the prolific thief committed his recent crimes while on a 16 week suspended sentence that was handed down by Worcester Magistrates in September last year for similar offences.
The court was told that between November 23 last year and February 5 this year Taylor committed 17 counts of theft from the stores in Telford, mostly from B&M in Harlescott, which he targeted 14 times.
Among the items taken were bottles of vodka, laundry products, vapes, food items and cans of de-icer.
Taylor pleaded guilty to all 17 counts of theft and was additionally charged with failing to give a drug sample to police, which he also admitted.
In total, Taylor stole £4,231 of items from B&M, £100 from Farm Foods and £77.80 from Asda.
In defending Taylor, solicitor John McMillan said the defendant's life was "in turmoil" and that his suffered from drug issues and accommodation problems.
However, magistrates described his latest shoplifting spree as "astonishing" and a "huge amount of money".
Magistrates immediately activated the suspended sentence and jailed for Taylor for 16 weeks and told him he would have to serve an additional 16 weeks on top of that for his latest crime spree.