Eastbourne Shoplifter Jailed for 32 Weeks After String of Thefts
Adam Summerford, 33, a notorious shoplifter with no fixed address, has been slammed with a 32-week prison sentence. The repeat offender targeted businesses in Eastbourne Old Town, nicking from Co-op, Sainsbury’s, and The Post Office between November 2022 and January 2023.
Caught on CCTV and Identified by Staff
Summerford’s crimes were caught on CCTV, and staff quickly recognised the thief. Police arrested him, charging Summerford with 11 counts of theft. Despite already serving a suspended sentence for similar offences, he pled guilty to all charges at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 20. He was remanded in custody to stop him striking again.
Compensation Awarded and Police Praise
On top of his jail time, Summerford must pay £515 in compensation. Police Community Support Officer Julian Williams from Eastbourne Neighbourhood Policing Team commented:
“Summerford is well-known for his previous offences of shoplifting in the area and could therefore be easily identified by staff who reported the incidents to us. This led to him being arrested by officers, and he was remanded in custody to prevent him from re-offending and causing further harm to our communities.”
Sussex Police Crack Down on Business Crime
Sussex Police’s Business Crime Team (BCT) works with partners including the Business Crime Reduction Partnership and Safer Sussex Business Partnership (SSBP) to fight crime county-wide.
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, who launched the SSBP in February 2020, said:
“It’s clear that this prolific offender, who caused major distress to shop staff and their customers, thought he would continually get away with it and go unchallenged. A prison sentence is a great result and is another example of the effective work taking place between retail stores, Sussex Police and our courts. I know it will be very welcome news to those living, working and visiting Eastbourne, as the high streets become a safer place for everyone.”
