Shoplifter banned from every Co-op store in England and Wales
A prolific shoplifter, Anthony John Englishby, has been banned from all Co-op stores in England and Wales until May 2027 after admitting to 10 counts of theft. He received a suspended six-month prison sentence. The ban is part of a broader crackdown on shoplifting in Greater Manchester, where arrests have risen by nearly 50% in Stockport. Chief Inspector Clare Ryle highlighted the use of Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to restrict offenders, with 12 currently in place in Stockport. Co-op supports these measures, citing the impact of prolific offenders on communities and shop workers.
Serial Shoplifter Banned From Every Co-op Store in England and Wales
A serial shoplifter has been banned from entering any of the 2,000-plus Co-op stores across England and Wales after admitting to a spree of thefts in Greater Manchester. Anthony John Englishby, 46, received a suspended six-month prison sentence at Tameside Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to 10 counts of theft.
The court imposed an exclusion order that bars Englishby, who has no fixed address, from all Co-op locations until May 2027. He was arrested by officers from Stockport West Neighbourhood Policing Team following incidents at two Co-op stores in Heald Green during March and April this year.
The case highlights a broader crackdown on shoplifting across Stockport, where arrests have surged by nearly 50% over the past year and charges have increased by 45%. Greater Manchester Police report bringing more than 100 shoplifters to justice weekly across the region.
Chief Inspector Clare Ryle emphasized the force’s commitment to tackling retail crime: “We understand the frustrations from businesses and the general public when some people feel they are able to shoplift routinely, therefore putting up the cost for everyone else. Working closely with local businesses we have been able to reduce shoplifting using Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) that restrict offenders from entering a designated area.”
Stockport currently has 12 active CBOs in place, including bans against Kelsey Atwell, 20, who is prohibited from entering 17 different stores, and Mark Swindells, 54, who cannot enter any Co-op, Greggs, or Tesco branch within Greater Manchester. A Co-op spokesperson welcomed the enforcement action, noting that “prolific offenders can blight high streets and local communities, and often their criminal activities can be a flashpoint for anti-social behaviour and violence against shop workers.”
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