Courts across Merseyside are issuing Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to ban a number of persistent offenders from major retail stores and shopping areas. These legal orders are a response to repeated instances of theft, anti-social behaviour, and violence against staff, impacting well-known shops including Aldi, B&M, Home Bargains, and JD Sports.
Individuals subject to these bans face immediate arrest and potential prison sentences if they violate the terms by entering the specified locations. The orders are designed to protect businesses and the public from the most disruptive criminals in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Courts are using Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to tackle persistent shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in Merseyside.
- Numerous individuals have been banned from specific stores like Aldi, B&M, Tesco, and JD Sports, as well as entire shopping centres.
- The bans range from local store restrictions to nationwide exclusions from entire retail chains.
- Breaching a CBO is a criminal offence that can result in a prison sentence, providing a strong deterrent for repeat offenders.
Understanding Criminal Behaviour Orders
Criminal Behaviour Orders are implemented by courts following a conviction for any criminal offence. They are specifically aimed at tackling the most serious and persistent offenders whose behaviour has caused significant harassment, alarm, or distress to the public.
What is a CBO?
A CBO is a civil order made in addition to a sentence. It sets out specific prohibitions, such as not entering a certain area or shop, to prevent further offending. For adults, these orders can be indefinite, while for those under 18, they can last for up to three years. A breach of a CBO is a criminal offence in itself, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Police and local authorities often work together to apply for these orders, presenting evidence to the court that an individual's behaviour is having a detrimental effect on the community. The restrictions are tailored to the individual's offending pattern to be as effective as possible.
Nationwide Bans for Repeat Offenders
In some of the more extreme cases, offenders have received bans that extend across the entire United Kingdom, prohibiting them from entering any branch of a specific retail chain.
Stuart Astley: Banned from All B&M Stores
Stuart Astley, 43, of Skelmersdale, was issued a CBO that bans him from entering any B&M store in the UK. This action was taken after a series of thefts from B&M and Co-Op stores in Skelmersdale and Upholland.
He was arrested on August 18 and later pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and four counts of breaching a previous CBO. He was sentenced to four months in prison for these offences. The nationwide ban underscores the severity of his persistent criminal activity.
Jordan Lytollis: Excluded from JD Sports and Footasylum
A dad who attacked staff with a metal bar during a shoplifting incident has been banned from every JD Sports, Footasylum, and Blacks store in the country. Jordan Lytollis was caught stealing from a Liverpool ONE store when he became violent.
During the incident, he threatened staff, saying, "If you come anywhere near me, I'll take your head off." A judge described him as a "greedy and violent individual." Lytollis was sentenced to 27 months in prison and given a four-year CBO with the nationwide retail ban.
Localised Bans Targeting Specific Areas
Many CBOs are geographically focused, banning individuals from specific town centres, retail parks, or a list of named stores within a certain borough where they are known to cause problems.
Teri Wilson: Barred from Major Retailers in Merseyside
Teri Wilson, 35, from Norris Green, has been banned from every TK Maxx, B&M, and Matalan store across Merseyside. The three-year CBO was issued after an investigation into persistent thefts and anti-social behaviour.
In addition to the store bans, Wilson is also prohibited from entering the Rock Retail Park in Birkenhead. The order will remain in place until June 2027, aiming to curb her disruptive activities in the area.
Joshua Chase: Prohibited from New Ferry and Bebington Shops
Joshua Chase, 24, received a four-year and four-month banning order after pleading guilty to 14 counts of theft from shops in New Ferry and the Croft Retail Park in Bebington. His offences included stealing large quantities of cheese, bacon, steak, and alcohol.
In one serious incident, Chase threatened an employee with a knife after being confronted. His CBO bans him from all Heron Foods, Iceland, and Aldi stores in the Wirral borough. He is also excluded from specific zones in New Ferry and the Croft Retail Park until January 2029. He was also sentenced to 26 weeks in prison.
A Pattern of Prolific Theft
Many of the offenders detailed in this report were responsible for multiple thefts, often stealing hundreds of pounds worth of goods in a single incident. Sean Draboczi, for example, once stole £321 worth of steak from a Marks and Spencer in Southport.
Offenders Jailed for Breaching Orders and Continued Thefts
The effectiveness of CBOs relies on enforcement, and courts have shown they will imprison those who fail to comply with the conditions or continue their criminal behaviour.
Emily Williams: Jailed for Theft and Assault
Emily Williams, a 25-year-old mum, was jailed for nine months after stealing candles from a John Lewis store in Liverpool ONE, a location she was already banned from. When challenged by a security guard, she bit him and shouted, "I have HIV."
The judge noted the terror the guard must have felt, regardless of whether her claim was true. Alongside her prison sentence, Williams was issued a three-year restraining order, banning her from the John Lewis store.
Daniel New: Recalled to Prison
Daniel New, 33, from Birkenhead, was given a three-year CBO in December 2023 for persistent anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. The order banned him from Birkenhead town centre and from associating with certain individuals.
However, he failed to adhere to the conditions. After a warrant was issued for his arrest, police located him in February 2024, and he was recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Paul Green: Jailed for Breaching Extensive Ban
Paul Green was already subject to a CBO banning him from The Range, Lidl, Tesco, and Asda stores across Merseyside. Despite this, he attempted to steal items, including hair straighteners, but was stopped by staff.
His original two-year order from September 2023 covered a long list of retailers and the Church Square Shopping Centre in St Helens. For his breach and further theft, he appeared in court via video link from HMP Altcourse and was sentenced to an additional 16 months in prison.
A Comprehensive List of Banned Individuals
The following is a summary of other individuals who have received CBOs for offences in and around Merseyside:
- Adam Lees: Jailed for 20 weeks and given a three-year CBO banning him from Co-Op, Sainsbury's, John Lewis, Home Bargains, and Go Local Extra, plus a large section of Liverpool city centre.
- Samantha Bristow: Jailed for 20 months for robbery and given a three-year CBO. She is banned from Birkenhead town centre and any Farmfoods, TK Maxx, Asda, Primark, or Wyndsors stores in Wirral.
- Sean Draboczi: A prolific shoplifter jailed for 24 weeks. His two-year CBO bans him from every Co-op, Aldi, and Sainsbury's in Merseyside, plus several specific Morrisons, M&S, and Spar stores.
- Simon Ferguson: Jailed for five months and banned from The Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale, Shell Garage on Grimshaw Road, Digmoor Parade, and all retail premises in Parbold and Dalton.
- Carlos Navarro: Banned from all Sainsbury's, Tesco, and B&M stores in Liverpool for repeatedly filling bags with stock, including £100 worth of board games from Waterstones.
- Lloyd Mangwiro: Banned from a large area of Liverpool city centre until February 2026 for theft and being drunk and disorderly.
- George Owen: Jailed for 20 weeks and given a three-year CBO prohibiting him from parts of Ormskirk town centre and any B&M Bargains store.
- Wayne Lewis: Banned from any Tesco, Aldi, or Sainsbury’s store in Southport and from wearing a face covering in any shop.
- Robert Edwards-Sutton: Banned from any Tesco, Aldi, or Co-op store in Wirral. He also cannot wear a face covering or harass staff in any shop in the borough.
These court orders represent a significant tool for police and retailers in their efforts to manage persistent offenders and ensure a safer shopping environment for the public and staff.