A serial shoplifter who went on a four-month stealing spree across the Black Country has been sent to prison and handed a strict ban from entering specific high streets and stores.
Spree of thefts across Dudley and Wolverhampton
Timonthy Lydon, aged 29 and of no fixed address, was charged with a total of 13 shoplifting offences. His crimes took place in the Dudley and Wolverhampton areas between September and December this year.
The prolific thief targeted items including food, alcohol, washing products and toiletries from shops in Woodsetton and Bilston. In one incident on December 5, he stole goods worth £250 from a store on Millfields Road in Wolverhampton.
Arrest, sentence and strict ban imposed
Lydon's crimewave was halted when he was arrested on Thursday, December 18. The following day, Friday, December 19, he appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Upon his release, he must comply with an 18-month Community Behaviour Order (CBO). This order explicitly bans him from:
- Entering Bilston High Street.
- Going into a store on Mervyn Place, Bilston.
- Entering a shop on Sedgley Road, Woodsetton.
- Entering a specific store on Millfields Road, Wolverhampton.
Police reaction and community warning
Dudley North Police Constable Josh Gorman stated that Lydon had been a persistent offender and welcomed the jail term. He emphasised the serious impact of shop theft on local businesses and the wider community.
"We recognise the impact that shop theft has on businesses and the wider community and remain committed to targeting repeat offenders to protect those affected," PC Gorman said. "I hope this sentence shows the community that we take all reports of shoplifting seriously."
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police urged the public to report any suspicious activity by calling 101, using the online Live Chat, or dialling 999 in an emergency.
