City Shops Ban

A PROLIFIC shoplifter arrested after he was spotted by a police officer and has been banned for three years from shops he targeted in Southend and Westcliff.
Under the terms of a criminal behaviour order made by city magistrates, James Coleman, 37, must not enter B&M in Victoria Plaza and Tesco Express in Southchurch Road, Southend, or Co-op Food in London Road and Tesco in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff.
The court heard on 1 April that Coleman, of no fixed address, had previously admitted ten shop thefts and an attempted theft from the stores between 7 July and 7 August 2025. He’d also pleaded guilty to failing or refusing to provide a sample in custody for a Class A drug test under the force’s drug test on arrest scheme.
He’d been given a jail term of 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to undertake 15 days of rehabilitation activity and to pay £114 victim surcharge.
Coleman was recognised in the street on 7 August 2025 and arrested by a Southend Local Policing Team officer shortly after he attempted to steal chocolate from B&M in Victoria Plaza.
Altogether, in one month, Coleman stole £1,134.70 of chocolate, wine, washing up products and energy drinks from the four shops.
Picture: James Coleman
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