Charlie Hunt-Wragg, a 23-year-old resident of Maldon, has been issued a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO).
In a noteworthy effort by Chelmsford Town Centre Policing Team, a decisive step has been taken to combat shoplifting within the city. Charlie Hunt-Wragg, a 23-year-old resident of Maldon, has been issued a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) on August 23, 2023, by Colchester magistrates. This CBO strictly restricts his entry into any Co-op store located in Chelmsford over the designated period.
The criminal behaviour order also extends to the High Chelmer Shopping Centre in Chelmsford, and it mandates that Hunt-Wragg refrains from remaining within any shop or commercial establishment if requested to leave by the staff. This proactive measure seeks to address the issue of persistent anti-social behaviour that has brought individuals like Hunt-Wragg before the court system.
The breach of a CBO carries legal consequences, potentially resulting in a maximum sentence of up to five years' imprisonment or a fine, or both, for adults found guilty of violating its terms. In addition to the CBO, Hunt-Wragg has been assigned 50 hours of unpaid work, accompanied by a £114 victim surcharge. The charges stem from his involvement in multiple theft cases. He had previously confessed to three counts of theft from the Co-op store on Melbourne Avenue on June 13, June 16, and July 6, as well as another incident at the Havengore store on June 26. Further charges include theft from Bodycare within the High Chelmer Shopping Centre on June 28 and thefts from the Co-op store on Torquay Road, Springfield, on July 3 and July 13. The items stolen encompassed a range of household products such as washing detergent, toiletries, confectionery, pet food, and litter. Hunt-Wragg's identification was facilitated through meticulous analysis of store CCTV footage by a town centre team officer. Following swift action, Hunt-Wragg was apprehended on July 13.
Acting Inspector Graham Thomas, representing the Chelmsford Town Centre Policing Team, commented after the court hearing that Hunt-Wragg's record of criminal activity marked him as a prolific shoplifter with a history of offences.
This comprehensive action highlights the community's commitment to curbing such activities and ensuring a safer retail environment for everyone. Chelmsford Town Centre Policing Team also reinforced the fact that theft from retail outlets, (shoplifting) is not a victimless crime:
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. And Hunt-Wragg’s behaviour has had a serious impact on staff and customers in the shops he has targeted. “We work hard to keep the city centre safe and to protect victims of crime from repeat offenders while also seeking to divert those offenders from their criminal behaviour. “And applying to the courts for criminal behaviour orders is one way we can do this as the conditions can be tailored to an individual’s particular circumstances. “In this case, Hunt-Wragg has not only been banned from several stores, he is not allowed to remain in any shop or business premises if he is asked to leave.”
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