A serial thief who repeatedly targeted a Northumberland supermarket has been banned from the premises.
Gary Pickering was arrested after stealing from the Co-op store on Avenue Road in Seaton Delaval on 11 different occasions. The 49-year-old stole items such as meat and coffee between January 5 and March 1 this year.
He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft at South Northumberland Magistrates' Court in Bedlington on Friday, March 17.
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Magistrates handed Pickering, of Kearsley Close, Seaton Delaval, a 18-month community order and ordered him to complete a drug rehabilitation programme.
They banned him from entering the Co-op store in Seaton Delaval for 18 months and ordered him to pay £1,387.22 in compensation.
Pickering must also pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
Northumbria Police say he has regularly targeted shops in the past few years in the Northumberland area.
PC Michael Gair, from the force, said: "Pickering has been a persistent offender in Northumberland and we are pleased that restrictions have now been placed upon him to curb his offending.
"Shoplifting is increasingly being dealt with by security at the shops themselves, but this shows that we will still take robust action against those who persistently reoffend and show a total disregard to those who live and work in our communities."
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