Serial shoplifter banned from all borough retailers

A South Tyneside thief who carried out a three-month shoplifting spree has been temporarily banned from every retailer in the borough.

- by Gareth Crickmer

Light-fingered Jonathan Evans, 33, who confessed to nine raids on four retailers, was told by magistrates: "Get somebody else to do your shopping."

Evans, of Coston Drive, South Shields, appeared before them to admit to carrying out four thefts against two branches of supermarket chain Morrisons.

He also stole three times from the same Greggs store and once each from Boyes and Tesco, with all offences being in South Shields between May and August.

When finally arrested, Evans claimed he had struck due to being repeatedly threatened by a man who was demanding £100 a day from him.

But prosecutor Paul Anderson said Evans had had ample opportunity to inform police of the alleged threats.