A notorious shoplifter who went on a months-long stealing spree across Brighton and Hove has been locked up for 50 weeks.
Thief Targeted Toothbrushes, Soft Toys & More
Jason Thorpe, 54, with no fixed address, admitted to pinching high-value items from multiple shops. His loot included £160 electric toothbrushes, Jellycat soft toys, candles, and health products stolen from stores in Portslade, Hove, and central Brighton.
Eleven Thefts in Just Three Months
Between 9 August and 28 October, Thorpe pulled off at least 11 thefts. He often just walked in and out without paying. The crime spree kicked off at a Portslade Tesco when he nabbed a pricey electric toothbrush. He seemed hooked on these as he kept raiding supermarkets all through August for the same item.
Thorpe also hit Bert’s Homestore in Hove three times across August and September, walking away with armfuls of costly Jellycat soft toys. The crime wave didn’t stop there. In October, he made off with candles from the Neptune showroom and health products from Holland & Barrett in Brighton.
Police Crack Down and Thorpe Jailed
Officers pieced together the crimes and arrested Thorpe on 27 November. He was charged the next day with 11 counts of shop theft.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 29 November, Thorpe pled guilty and was swiftly sentenced to nearly a year behind bars.
“Thorpe showed a clear pattern of offending,” said Detective Constable Timothy Carr-Dean. “He caused significant disruption and financial loss. His repeated thefts left staff frustrated. Thanks to the stores for their help in ending this spree.”
