Prolific shoplifter in Ellesmere Port issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and banned from shops

Prolific shoplifter, Brendan Michael James Fitzpatrick, 52, of Forge Road, Ellesmere Port, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court last week and was issued with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) banning him from shops in Ellesmere Port.

In 2023, Fitzpatrick was prosecuted for hundreds of pounds worth of thefts in local businesses by Cheshire Police and issued with a banning notice by Cheshire West and Chester’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP).

Fitzpatrick failed to comply with his banning notice and continued offending.

The Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Unit, a partnership between Cheshire Police and the Council’s Community Safety team, based with Ellesmere Port police station, successfully applied to the court the three-year CBO.

The order prohibits Fitzpatrick from entering Tesco Express in Little Sutton and Marks and Spencer in Cheshire Oaks.

In addition, the order requires that when he goes into any other stores, he must place all items in a basket or trolley until they are paid for.

Any breaches of the CBO could result in a maximum sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner, said:

“The offences committed by Brendan Fitzpatrick have had a significant impact on shop workers, business owners and the general public in Ellesmere Port, and we hope the conditions of the order will dissuade him from continuing this offending.

“We’re working closely with businesses and retailers across the borough to identify and tackle prolific offending which is of real concern in our communities.”

PC Lucy Hawkins said:

“Fitzpatrick is a prolific shoplifter who has 62 previous convictions for these types of offences; it is hoped that these robust conditions, that have been imposed by the court, will deter him and others from committing such offences in the future.

“I hope this result will provide reassurance to local businesses in the area, highlighting that we are doing all we can to tackle offending of this nature.”