Cardiff Man Jailed for £1,000 Shoplifting Spree

A Cardiff man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to a shoplifting spree that cost local businesses over £1,000 in losses 🛒⚖️

Karl Legg, aged 39, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on June 11, 2025, where he admitted to four counts of burglary and one count of theft following a series of raids across Cardiff stores in May.

The court heard how Legg’s crime spree began on May 5, 2025, just before 7pm, when he cycled to a Co-operative on Pontcanna Street. He walked straight behind the front desk and stole eight bottles of spirits worth £198.50 before cycling off.

Less than two hours later at around 9.30pm, he struck again at a Co-operative on Danescourt, heading behind the till to steal a further eight bottles of alcohol totalling £252.80.

The following morning at around 11.45am, Legg entered a Premier store on Cowbridge Road East. He waited for staff to be distracted before stealing bottles of vodka from behind the till worth £182.25.

Three days later on May 9, Legg targeted a Spar store in Llandaff at around 6.35pm, placing £97.50 worth of steaks and meat joints in his rucksack before leaving without paying.

Seven hours later in the early hours of May 10, police were called to a break-in at Tesco Express in Cyncoed, where Legg had stolen £320.25 worth of alcohol and broken a window.

CCTV enquiries linked the incidents together, leading to Legg’s identification and arrest.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Warriner said: “Legg’s actions show he believed he was above the law and didn’t care about how his actions impacted businesses in Cardiff. I’m pleased to see the sentence determined by the courts.”