A SERIAL shoplifter who stole over £80 in clothes and groceries has been banned from a number of shops, after pleading guilty to theft.

Robert Black, 47, of Westfield Road, Thatcham, was handed a criminal behaviour order at Reading Magistrates' Court on Monday (December 14).

On November 17, at around 11.35am, he stole men's clothes, worth £66, from Peacocks in Kennet Centre, Newbury.

He was also convicted of stealing £25 worth of groceries at the Co-op in The Broadway, Thatcham on October 1 of this year. 

The criminal behaviour order will see Black banned from entering two Co-Op stores in The Broadway, Thatcham, a Co-Op store in Bradley Moore Square, Thatcham, a Sainsbury’s Local in Thatcham, a Tesco Express in Northfield Road, Thatcham, a BP service station and a Tesco Superstore in London Road, Newbury and Peacocks, in The Kennet Centre in Newbury.

He will also not be allowed to stay in a shop in West Berkshire if asked to leave by staff. 

Investigating officer, PC Peter Duffy, Anti-Social Behaviour officer for West Berkshire, said: "Robert Black has persistently stolen from shops in Thatcham and Newbury, often being threatening and intimidating towards members of staff when challenged.

“The order prohibits Black from entering the named stores and from remaining on any retail establishment in West Berkshire if requested to leave by a member of staff. If Black breaches the order he will be committing a criminal offence for which he can be arrested and put before the court. The order will provide some respite to the stores he has persistently targeted.”

The order will last until December 13, 2017 and will be a criminal offence if Black breaches it. 

Black will remain in custody until he is sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on December 29.