A prolific shoplifter has been banned from Northallerton and Thirsk.
Stephen Steele, 39, of Hartington Road in Stockton-on-Tees, was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison and given a 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order.
Steele pleaded guilty to a series of thefts from stores in Thirsk and Northallerton between November and December 2025.
PC Atkinson from Hambleton Neighbourhood Policing Team first identified Steele after a theft at Tesco in Thirsk on 23 November.
On 12 December, one of the Police Community Support Officers spotted him after a theft at Boots in Thirsk before he fled the scene.
He was arrested and charged and remanded to court the next day where he was subsequently bailed.
After another theft on 31 December from Marks & Spencer in Northallerton, Steele was identified again.
Finally, on 9 January, a plain-clothed Community Safety Hub officer spotted him acting suspiciously in Northallerton. Response officers swiftly moved in and arrested him.
Steele appeared at court (13 January) and was jailed for 20 weeks, ordered to pay £300 compensation, to pay £154 victim surcharge and was handed a 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order. The order says that Steele;
Must not enter Northallerton
Must not enter Thirsk
Must attend a Retail Crime Awareness Course
Inspector Rory Sadler of Hambleton Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “PC Ben Atkinson from Hambleton NPT and PC Paul Mushens from the Hambleton Community Safety Hub worked together to secure this Criminal Behaviour Order, which will protect retail premises in Northallerton and Thirsk for the next five years.
“Retail crime is a key priority for Hambleton NPT, and Steele’s CBO follows a similar order issued just weeks ago to another offender.
“Hambleton is a fantastic place to visit and shop, with a low crime rate. That makes us even more determined to tackle those who try to spoil that.
“We will continue to use every tool available, including court orders, to clamp down on offending and keep our communities safe.”
