Sweet-toothed thief targeted Tesco and Iceland in shoplifting spree

A prolific thief who targeted Tesco, One Stop and Iceland in a three-week shoplifting spree has been jailed.

Darren McCaul was hauled before magistrates after terrorising stores in Fleetwood between March 29 and April 18 this year. Lancashire Constabulary said officers were called to a store in the town last Thursday after reports of a male shoplifting.

The 32-year-old was soon arrested on a nearby street and was later charged with nine shoplifting offences. McCaul, of no fixed address, appeared before Magistrates on Friday (April 19) and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

READ MORE:

• Racist bully attacked girlfriend, taxi driver and dad picking up son, 5, from school in string of drunken assaults

• Woman, 40, banned from Tesco, Morrisons and Dunelm after shoplifting spree

Court documents show the sweet-toothed crook targeted the Iceland store on Lord Street on March 29 and stole 86 crème eggs worth £56. The next day, he returned to the store in the morning and stole cold meats before going back in the afternoon and stealing more cold meats.

On April 1, McCaul stole a crate containing two boxes of alcohol from One Stop Stores on Poulton Road worth £30. The Tesco Express in Hatfield Avenue was then targeted on on April 9 and McCaul stole three tubs of Celebrations valued at £32.

Three days later he stole several boxes of laundry detergent worth £32 from One Stop Stores and then on April 14 he pinched several boxes of dog food worth £20 from the same premises. He went back to the store on April 16 to steal another £30 of dog food and then finally stole seven packs of sausages and a slush drink worth £32.50 from Iceland on April 18.