A 47-year-old man who repeatedly stole from shops in Monmouth town centre has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Jeffrey Boulton, of Whitecross Street in the town, was handed eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 15. He was also made subject to a community order and told to pay compensation.
What he admitted
Boulton pleaded guilty to:
- Multiple counts of theft from a shop
- A public order offence of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
- Breaching his bail conditions
- Failing to surrender to police or court bail
Steaks, alcohol and face creams
Between Friday, June 12, and Tuesday, June 23, Boulton targeted commercial premises in Monmouth, taking steaks, alcohol and face creams.
The public order offence came before the thefts, on Saturday, May 9, and also took place in Monmouth. His bail breach happened later in the year, between Saturday, September 5, and Friday, September 11.
Police response
PC Declan Beale, who has recently taken on the role of neighbourhood ward manager for Monmouth at Gwent Police, said:
“The impact of theft is hugely felt by our communities, and we know it must be exceptionally dispiriting for retailers and staff to be perennially targeted in this way by offenders like Boulton.
“Through continued partnership working, targeted enforcement and community engagement, we will continue to pursue thieves who case harm to our communities and make life a misery for business owners and staff.
“Part of our work to tackle shoplifting also includes providing crime prevention advice to businesses but it is crucial that anyone who is affected by theft, reports it to us.”
Reporting theft
The force is asking anyone with concerns about theft or other criminal activity to get in touch by calling 101, through the Gwent Police website, or by sending a direct message on Facebook or X.
