A MAN has been banned from every Co-op and One Stop shop in Dorset after he committed more than 50 shoplifting offences to feed his drug habit.

Rhys Mansell, 37, repeatedly targeted the Co-op in Charminster Road and the One Stop in Ripon Road in a spate of 54 thefts over eight months.

Mansell regularly stole from stores in Bournemouth between Monday, May 29, 2023, and Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

He stole to feed his drug habit with the total value of the items he stole estimated at more than £4,000.

This included alcohol, chocolate, packets of meat, detergent and cooking oil.

Mansell, from Bournemouth, was sentenced at a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, April 26, after he admitted 54 theft offences and a burglary, possession of a bladed article and failing to stop for police.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and is subject to a restraining order which prohibits him from entering any Co-op or One Stop in Dorset for a period of four years.

Chief inspector Alyssa Forrest of Dorset Police, said: “This is a significant sentence for shoplifting offences and reflects the sheer scale and relentless nature of Rhys Mansell’s offending.

“The investigation into this defendant formed part of Op Shopkeeper, the Retail Team in the Incident Resolution Team’s ongoing efforts to identify prolific shoplifters across the county and take robust action to prevent them from causing further harm to members of our business communities.

“Mansell now faces a significant period behind bars and we have secured further protection against the stores he repeatedly targeted with the restraining order that has been imposed.”