The West Bassetlaw policing team have continued to clamp down on shoplifting in Worksop town centre as two offenders faced the courts on the same day.

Once she was recognised by the local council through CCTV walking across the centre on Wednesday (9 July), Emma Caterer was stopped by Worksop response officers and arrested.

Between 13 June and 9 July, Caterer, 41, was responsible for stealing a mixture of clothes, make-up and home products during five shop thefts in Worksop.

Later in the week on Friday (11 July), officers had more success when they arrested Tony Matkin while out on patrol, who was on their radar after being caught on shop CCTV stealing plants from Asda, Memorial Avenue, on 25 June.

Both Matkin, and Caterer, of Gateford Road, Worksop, were put before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court last Friday (11 July).

Caterer pleaded guilty and was handed a conditional discharge for a year, with orders to pay back the cost of items stolen.

Matkin, of Lowtown Street, Worksop, also pleaded guilty to one count of theft.

This incident added onto Matkin’s previous shoplifting offences, where the 36-year-old was found guilty of four prior shoplifting offences, and one count of vagrancy across Worksop town centre.

In total, he was jailed for six months – four from his previous suspended sentence, and another two for this further offence.

Inspector Robert Harrison, of the Bassetlaw neighbourhood policing team, said:

“Tackling retail crime in Worksop town centre remains a top priority for us, and we are determined to track down and arrest anyone who is involved in these offences.

“Shoplifting can be a serious blight on communities and will never be tolerated by Nottinghamshire Police.

“We work hard with our partners and local businesses to prevent this type of offending in the first place and crack down on the small number of individuals who are responsible for a disproportionate number of shop thefts.

“I hope this action reassures local businesses and members of the public that we will continue to do everything we can to protect them from persistent offenders.”