Serial shoplifter handed suspended sentence after stealing Lurpak, cheese, shampoo and more from Northampton shops

Carly Odell
By Carly Odell
Published 25th Oct 2023, 10:07 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2023, 15:59 BST
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The 37-year-old has been sentenced for numerous, previous shoplifting offences over the last two years

A serial shoplifter has been handed a suspended sentence after stealing Lurpak, cheese, shampoo and more from shops across Northampton.

Grant Filer-Hobbs, of no fixed address, was arrested on Friday (October 20), after Northamptonshire Police released a wanted appeal.

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The 37-year-old then appeared before Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (October 21), where he pleaded guilty to four counts of theft dating back to three days in August this year.

Wellingborough Magistrates' Court.Wellingborough Magistrates' Court.
Wellingborough Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates handed the serial offender a suspended sentence. If Filer-Hobbs is convicted of further offences in the 12-month suspension period, the suspended sentences will be activated and he will serve them alongside any subsequent sentence.

The charges and sentences

  • Theft from One Stop store, Duston, on August 12: 12 blocks of Lurpak butter and six blocks of cheese worth a total of £92.40: four weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £92.40 compensation.
  • Theft from Home Bargains, Northampton, on August 14: Four Dettol sprays, three Dettol wipes and two drinks worth a total of £18.91: two weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £18.91 compensation.
  • Theft from Home Bargains, Northampton, on August 14: Three bottles of Bedhead shampoo worth a total of £22.47; two weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £22.47 compensation.
  • Theft from Home Bargains, Northampton, on August 14: Six Lynx deodorant sets and 20 shower gels, worth a total of £55.94: four weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £55.94 compensation.

Filer-Hobbs is no stranger to the courts as earlier this year he was jailed for the fourth time in less than two years after admitting stealing alcohol and chocolate.

He pleaded guilty to taking a £35 bottle of gin from Marks & Spencer on February 12 this year and three Reese’s eggs, a Milky Bar egg, two wafers and two Red Bull cans worth £9.55 from a local Spar the following day. He committed these crimes while he had a suspended sentence hanging over him for criminal damage to a car seat.

Between January and April 2022, Filer-Hobbs admitted stealing more than £300 worth of goods from Home Bargains in St Peters Square. He was jailed for 14 weeks.