Shoplifter William Gamble Locked Up and Banned from Mansfield Town Centre
William Gamble, 36, has been jailed for 12 weeks after pleading guilty to two shop thefts in Nottingham and Mansfield in mid-December. The career petty thief now faces a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) banning him from most of Mansfield town centre and several local stores.
Long Record of Theft Lands Gamble Behind Bars
Gamble’s latest offences happened on 13th and 15th December. Nottingham Magistrates’ Court handed down his sentence on 16th December. Alongside jail time, the CBO bans him from entering any store with an empty bag—a tactic aimed at stopping him from stealing again. He’s also barred from specific retail parks and must engage with drug rehab workers, signaling police suspect his crimes are addiction-driven.
Mansfield Police Crack Down on Shoplifting Ring
The local force is running a tough anti-shoplifting campaign focusing on the town’s five most prolific offenders, including Gamble. Sergeant Alice Bartle, leading the Mansfield town centre police team, said:
“This kind of repeat shoplifting is a blight on our town and simply won’t be tolerated by Nottinghamshire Police.”
She added:
“Some people may think shop theft isn’t serious, but it hurts everyone living and working here. People like Gamble steal to fund addictions, so our intervention is for their good as well as local businesses.”
Criminal Behaviour Orders: A Weapon Against Repeat Offenders
These CBOs restrict where offenders can go and what they can do, aiming to prevent further crimes. Breaching the orders means a quick return to prison. Inspector Kylie Davies, Mansfield’s district commander, said:
“A small group causes a disproportionate amount of shop thefts. Targeting them relentlessly is already giving promising results. Gamble and others are now behind bars, with two CBOs secured and others on the way.”
Police hope these measures will make Mansfield a safer, cleaner place for residents and shopkeepers alike.
