Portsmouth Man Jailed After String of Shop Thefts
Johnny Kerridge, from Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 4 December. The 10 theft charges stem from a spree of shoplifting across the city.
Crime Spree Timeline
- 16 Nov 2019, 6pm: Cigarettes worth around £70 stolen from Waitrose, Marmion Road.
- 16 Nov 2019, 10:15pm: Kerridge wrestled with staff at Co-Op on Great Southsea Street to snatch cash from the till. Thankfully, no injuries reported.
- 14 Aug, 8:20pm: Tobacco worth £176 pinched from One Stop, Chichester Road.
- 22 Aug: Around £120 of tobacco and chocolate stolen from Sainsbury’s Local, Albert Road, over three occasions.
- 23 Aug, 6:55pm: Meat and cheese worth £40 taken from Co-Op, Fawcett Road.
- 24 Aug, 7:45pm: £40 of confectionery stolen from Co-Op, Elm Grove.
- 25 Aug, 6:25pm: £60 of sweets stolen from Co-Op, Fawcett Road.
- 27 Aug, 7:10pm: £280 of meat, fish, cheese, and chocolate stolen from Co-Op, Copnor Road.
- 3 Sept, 2:10pm: Meat worth £130 stolen from Co-Op, Francis Avenue.
- 5 Sept, 9:30am: £110 of meat and other products stolen from Co-Op, Elm Grove.
- 5 Sept, 2:55pm: £200 of meat and chocolate taken from Co-Op, The Hard.
- 4 Oct, 6:05pm: Tobacco worth £30 stolen from Co-Op, Northern Parade.
Guilty Plea and Previous Offences
Kerridge pleaded guilty to ten counts of shop theft.
He was also found in breach of a suspended sentence from April, which covered three counts of failing to stop, driving while disqualified, and two counts of theft. This was handed down at Portsmouth Magistrates Court.
Operation Monster Tackles Shoplifting
The case was part of Operation Monster, a local initiative where Portsmouth police team up with businesses to crack down on aggravated shoplifting and related crimes.
