Gosport prolific shoplifter jailed and given Criminal Behaviour Order

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for four months and handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after she stole items and assaulted three women in Gosport.

Linzi Wratten, 38, of South Street, Gosport, stole meat and coffee worth £31.96 from Farmfoods on Forton Road on Monday 4 November.

On the same day, she attempted to steal steaks and coffee worth £79.95 from Co-op on Forton Road. Wratten assaulted three female staff members during the incident.

Meanwhile, on Friday 25 October she stole fish and meat worth £75 from Waitrose on Stoke Road.

Wratten was arrested and later charged with two counts of theft from a shop, one count of attempted theft from a shop, two counts of assault by beating and one count of common assault.

She pleaded guilty to all offences and was a jailed for four months at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Tuesday 5 November.

Wratten was also handed a two-year CBO, which sets out a number of conditions to limit her behaviour.

Under the conditions of the CBO, she must not enter any retail/business premises if banned from doing so.

Also, she must place all items into baskets or trolleys and present means to pay for goods upon request. If asked to do so, she must leave the retail/business premises immediately.

Sergeant Rhys McCarthy, from the Gosport Neighbourhoods Policing Team, said: “We know the impact Linzi Wratten’s actions had on businesses, shop workers and the wider community in Gosport.

“Not only did Wratten steal from shops, she also assaulted members of staff when they had a right to feel safe at their place of work.

“Our message is clear – shoplifting and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in Gosport.

“She has now been jailed and will have strict CBO conditions imposed on her when she is released.

“Please continue to report incidents like this to us as we will do all we can to put those responsible before the courts.

“We will look at all options available to us, including CBOs, in our relentless pursuit of criminals.”