A man has been given a suspended sentence and Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after being found guilty of 25 counts of shoplifting.

Bobby Ferris, aged 34, of Trumbull Road, Bracknell, was convicted of the offences in a hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 13.

In the same hearing, Ferris was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years and was made subject to a stringent CBO for a period of five years.

Between August 8 and November 14, 2023, Ferris stole stock to the value of over £7,000 from BP petrol stations in Bagshot Road and Wokingham Road, making no attempts to pay for the goods.

He was arrested on November 14 and charged the following day with 25 counts of shoplifting.

Under the terms of the CBO issued Ferris is prohibited from entering Bracknell town centre.

He also cannot behave in a threatening, abusive or disorderly manner in private or public places or enter any petrol station garage shop anywhere in Bracknell, unless paying for petrol for a motor vehicle he is driving.

Police have also barred him from encouraging another person to steal on his behalf.

Investigating officer PC Carla May, of the Bracknell Problem Solving Team, said: “Bobbie Ferris has been a prolific offender and a scourge on the local businesses affected by his spree of shoplifting.

“He has now been made subject to some stringent conditions via a Criminal Behaviour Order, and should he breach these, or be convicted of any other offence, his 16-week suspended prison sentence will result in him going to prison.

“We are working very hard to tackle shoplifting in our communities. We know only too well the impact this has on businesses.

“It is not a victimless crime, and the impacts can be far-reaching, both for businesses and individuals affected.”