A prolific shoplifter has been banned from town centre businesses for two years after being convicted of a number of thefts from shops.

Daniel Teelan, 46, of Henderson Gardens, Wickford, was handed the Criminal Behaviour Order at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Monday 10 May.

The order bans him from entering the following shops for two years:

• Co-op, 157-159 Nevendon Road, Wickford SS12 0NY;

• Co-op, 44 High Road, Wickford SS12 9AT;

• Tesco, 155 Southend Road, Wickford SS11 8EE;

• BP Cranfield Park, Cranfield Park Road S12 9FG;

• Deichmann, 56 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.

The order was granted after Teelan was convicted of a number of thefts from shops which took place in April.

PC Alex Plakhtienko, from the Business Crime Team, said: “Shoplifting and theft can have a big impact on shops and businesses.

“We continue to work hard with businesses to protect them from crime and applying for Criminal Behaviour Orders is just one of the tools available to us.

“We’re committed to targeting those who commit crimes against local businesses in communities across Essex and we will do everything we can to bring them to justice.”

We have also recently launched our new ‘Open for Business, Close for Crime’ campaign to tackle violence and abuse against staff as retail re-opens.

PC Plakhtienko added: “Retail staff being subjected to violence and abuse is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially during the pandemic when so many of them have been serving us throughout.

“Through our Open for Business Closed for Crime campaign, we are working with businesses, encouraging them to report incidents to us.

“It’s going to be busy for retail now so it’s a good time for us all to give a clear message to potential offenders that assaults on and abuse of public-facing staff will not be tolerated.”