A prolific shoplifter has been jailed and banned from Northallerton and Thirsk for five years following a series of thefts across the two towns.
Stephen Steele, 39, of Hartington Road, Stockton-on-Tees, was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison and handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) when he appeared at court on Tuesday.
Steele pleaded guilty to multiple thefts committed at retail stores in Thirsk and Northallerton between November and December 2025.
He was first identified by PC Ben Atkinson from Hambleton Neighbourhood Policing Team following a theft at Tesco in Thirsk on 23 November, after which Steele was circulated as wanted.
On 12 December, a Police Community Support Officer spotted Steele after another theft at Boots in Thirsk Marketplace.
He fled the scene, prompting a large police response involving Neighbourhood Policing, Response and Roads Policing Group officers. Steele was arrested, charged and remanded to court the following day, where he was later bailed.
After committing a further theft at Marks & Spencer in Northallerton on 31 December, Steele was again circulated as wanted.
He was finally arrested on 9 January, when a plain-clothed officer from the Community Safety Hub spotted him acting suspiciously in Northallerton. Response officers attended and made the arrest.
In addition to his prison sentence, Steele was ordered to pay £300 in compensation and a £154 victim surcharge. The Criminal Behaviour Order bans him from entering Northallerton and Thirsk and requires him to attend a Retail Crime Awareness Course.
Inspector Rory Sadler, of Hambleton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “PC Ben Atkinson from Hambleton NPT and PC Paul Mushens from the Hambleton Community Safety Hub worked together to secure this Criminal Behaviour Order, which will protect retail premises in Northallerton and Thirsk for the next five years.
“Retail crime is a key priority for Hambleton NPT, and Steele’s CBO follows a similar order issued just weeks ago to another offender.
“Hambleton is a fantastic place to visit and shop with a low crime rate. That makes us even more determined to tackle those who try to spoil that. We will continue to use every tool available to keep our communities safe.”
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