A man from Lancashire has been handed a sweeping nationwide ban from entering some of the UK's most prominent retail chains, including every Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Co-op store in the country.
Court sentencing and nationwide retail ban
Christopher Moran, who is of no fixed address in Lancashire, appeared at Preston Magistrates' Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft. The magistrates sentenced him to 12 weeks in custody, which will run concurrently with a separate 52-week prison term he is already serving.
In a significant move to curb his persistent offending, the court also imposed a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO). This order explicitly bans Moran from entering any branch of several major retailers across the entire United Kingdom.
Extensive list of prohibited stores
The comprehensive list of banned retailers includes:
- Tesco
- Co-op
- Sainsbury's
- B&M
- TK Maxx
- Booths
- Trespass
The order stems from a spree of thefts committed across the South Ribble and Preston areas. Lancashire Police applied for the CBO to disrupt his cycle of crime and protect local businesses from further financial harm.
Further geographic restrictions and police statement
Beyond the retail ban, the criminal behaviour order places strict geographic limitations on Moran's movements. He is barred from areas of Preston Marina and Navigation Way, as well as the entire Penwortham exclusion zone.
A crucial condition of the order requires Moran to immediately leave any retail premises if asked to do so by staff, giving businesses a direct tool to enforce the ban.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police explained the rationale behind such orders, stating: "CBOs are used to target individuals who are repeat demand generators and have been identified as often engaging in criminality in a specified area. They are given to people who have been convicted of an offence with the aim to prevent them engaging in further criminal behaviour."
The police emphasised that the restrictions are designed specifically to protect businesses from further harm and break the pattern of persistent shoplifting linked to the individual.
