Victoria Taylor (Image: South Wales Police)
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A woman who was banned from a string of shops across Barry and Penarth has been locked up after continuing to steal from retailers in the area.
Victoria Taylor, 31, of Norwood Crescent, Barry, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to five counts of theft and breaching a criminal behaviour order.
The criminal behaviour order
Taylor had been made subject to a two-year criminal behaviour order in February, which barred her from entering any Tesco store in Barry and Penarth, any One Stop Shop in Barry, Asda in Barry, Co-op on Colcot Road in Barry, and Home Bargains on Palmerston Road in Barry.
The order also required her not to behave in a disorderly, threatening, or abusive manner in any retail premises in Barry and Penarth, and to leave any shop when asked to do so.
When the order was imposed, PC Adrian Muscat, anti-social behaviour co-ordinator at South Wales Police, said: “South Wales Police work closely with retailers and businesses to protect them from crime and anti-social behaviour committed by individuals like Victoria Taylor.
“Taylor’s behaviour has caused persistent and continuous harassment and distress to the communities of Barry and Penarth.”
The offences
Despite the restrictions placed on her, Taylor carried out a spree of thefts across three towns over a period of weeks.
On February 5, she stole clothes and underwear worth £90 from Peacocks in Penarth. On April 15, she took steaks valued at £32.55 from Tesco Express in Dinas Powys.
The following day, she targeted two shops – first stealing three packets of cheese worth £13.20 from Co-op in Barry, then taking coffee and Ferrero Rocher chocolates valued at £46.50 from One Stop.
Her final offence came on April 22, when she stole meat and cheese worth £77.85 from One Stop.
In total, the goods stolen across the five incidents were valued at more than £260.
Taylor admitted all five thefts and the breach of her criminal behaviour order.
