A persistent shoplifter has become subject to a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering shops in the county.

Lee Henry, 40 and of Linworth Close in Bishop's Cleeve appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Thursday (September 2) where he received the order following his offending.

The order was secured by the Constabulary's Integrated Offender Management team which brings a cross-agency response to the crime and reoffending threats faced by local communities.

Henry now has to follow the below condition until 1 September 2026, or he will face imprisonment:

• Not enter any retail premises in Gloucestershire with the exception of Tesco superstore on Tewksbury Road, St Marks Pharmacy on Tennyson Road, the Post Office on Tewkesbury Road and any pub, restaurant, fast food outlet or bank.

The Judge heard how Henry had been targeting a number of businesses across the county over the past three years with his most recent offending seeing him target Sainsbury's three times in one day.

Inspector Rob Harding said: "Lee Henry has been causing problems for businesses for a number of years and I am pleased that we have secured this order.

"Henry received the order last week after avoiding it for a year and I am sure that Cheltenham shopkeepers will be very happy.

"He was also given a 36-month suspended sentence for burglary offences at Wickes on Tewkesbury Road so any new offences will trigger this."