Man charged with Hythe shopliftings

Officers investigating a number of shopliftings in the New Forest have charged a man.

Lee Paul Barnes, 40, of Round Copse in Dibden, has been charged with the following offences:

• The theft of vodka from Waitrose, Hythe High Street, on 14 February. 
• The theft of meat from Tesco Express, Langdown Lawn, on 13 February.
• Another shoplifting at Tesco Express, Langdown Lawn, on 25 January. A variety of items worth approximately £55 were stolen.
• The theft of chocolate bars to the value of £44 from the Tesco store at the service station on Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu.

He has also been charged with three counts of breaching a restraining order preventing him from entering Tesco stores in relation to these offences.

Barnes has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Southampton Magistrates Court today, 15 February.