A PROLIFIC shoplifter banned from every Co-op in Essex has been jailed after he visited seven stores in Colchester and snatched more than £400 of items. 

Defiant thief Daniel Bannerman brazenly returned to the supermarket’s branches in Old Heath Road, Mersea Road, Greenstead, Wimpole Road, Harwich Road, Wivenhoe, and Peartree in Stanway. 

Bannerman, 32, had previously received a criminal behaviour order for a spree of thefts across Colchester, but during a three-day period earlier this month he visited the shops and took items like meat, energy drinks and washing detergent.

From Friday November 10 to Monday November 13, Bannerman, of Prince Philip Road, Colchester, took £400 worth of items.

He was then arrested on Wednesday November 15, appearing in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court two days later where he received a four-month jail term, and was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation.

The prolific offender has been jailed in the past for shoplifting offences, serving time in jail last year and also receiving a suspended sentence in 2021.

Essex Police’s Mike Lee, who is part of the force’s business crime team, said the authorities will do everything possible make sure those who breach criminal behaviour orders serve time in prison.

He said: “Essex is a county of businesses and we’re working hard to protect them and their staff.

“This result sends a really clear message criminal behaviour orders.

“If someone breaches the conditions of their CBO they can expect we’ll try everything we can to ensure they receive a custodial sentence.

PC Lee added that Essex Police was seeing an increase in the number of shoplifting cases being solved.

“We’re committed to tackling those responsible for business crime

“In the last year we’ve solved 2,500 shoplifting cases – that’s 500 more than the previous year.

“In the last month alone we’ve made 81 arrests for shoplifting offences.”

Essex Police also arrested three shoplifters in Colchester between October 23 and October as part of their crackdown on the offences.