Suspected car thief and serial shoplifter Colin French has been barred from entering most of Newcastle and a large part of Northumberland. The 28-year-old appeared in court this week charged with 12 counts of shop theft, one theft of a motor vehicle, one theft of parcels, and two counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.
French is accused of stealing goods from Sainsbury's on ten occasions at branches in Whitley Bay and Newcastle, taking items from the Co-op in Cullercoats, and stealing goods from Hollister in Newcastle City Centre. The alleged offences occurred between May 30 and June 4. He also allegedly breached a Criminal Behaviour Order twice by entering a Sainsbury's store. Additionally, he is accused of stealing a Land Rover worth £1,700 from a street in Blakelaw on May 22 and stealing four parcels from the same vehicle on the same date.
French, of Newbiggin Hall, did not enter pleas to any of the 17 charges when he appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court this week. The case was adjourned to a date at Newcastle Magistrates' Court later this month. In the meantime, French was released on conditional bail, with conditions including a ban from entering the area bounded by the River Tyne to the south, the A1 to the west, the River Tweed in Berwick to the north, and the North Sea to the east. He was also barred from entering Sainsbury's, the Co-op, and Hollister.
This case highlights ongoing efforts to tackle theft and criminal behaviour in the region. The court will address the charges at the next hearing.
