Shoplifter Busted After £300 Coat and Booze Heist Spree
Bray Sharpe thought he could make off with a pricey coat and some goods without getting caught. On Friday 1 December 2023, he strolled into a clothing store on Week Street, grabbed a coat worth nearly £300, and walked out without paying.
Returns for More Theft at The Mall
Not done yet, Sharpe came back to town four days later. This time, he swiped meat products from a shop in The Mall shopping centre. His criminal spree wasn’t over.
Alcohol Theft Leads to High-Speed Pursuit and Arrest
On 16 December, Sharpe hit a supermarket on maidstone/" title="Maidstone" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Maidstone Road, Chatham, stealing multiple alcohol products. He fled by car but was chased by police. The chase ended on Royal Engineers’ Road, Maidstone, where Sharpe was arrested.
The 26-year-old, from Byron Road, Maidstone, was charged with three counts of theft. At Medway Magistrates’ Court on 7 December, he pleaded guilty to all charges. Judges didn’t hang about — Sharpe was sentenced to six months behind bars immediately.
Police Crack Down on Retail Crime
PC Samuel Turner of the Maidstone Victim Based Crime Team slammed Sharpe as a “prolific shoplifter,” adding: “He has received swift justice and will now be spending his Christmas behind bars.”
Turner warned that thefts like these hurt local businesses and force honest customers to pick up the tab. “Kent Police are working closely with shops and respond quickly to shoplifting reports to bring offenders to justice,” he said.
