Two Hereford shoplifters are sentenced

Two men have each been sentenced to 16 weeks for committing bulk thefts at retailers in Hereford last November.

Teejay Thomas, 34, of Walnut Tree Avenue, Hereford, and Nathan James, 34, of Glanmuir Road, Cardiff were both convicted at Hereford Magistrates Court on Wednesday 29 January.

The pair came to Hereford in a stolen car on November 8, 2024, to carry out the thefts at M&S, B&Q, Boots and Tesco to the approximate value of £2,000.

James was located and arrested by PC Lee Phillips on Aubrey Street, while Thomas made off in a car and was pursued by a dog unit and subsequently apprehended by police.

Thomas was sentenced to a total of 16 weeks and ordered to pay £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a victim surcharge of £154 for the two counts of theft and activating a suspended sentence.

He was further convicted of failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle when required by constable / traffic warden for which he was fined £100, driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence for which he was fined £50, using a motor vehicle on a road / public place without third party insurance for which he was fined £250 and his licence endorsed with eight penalty points.

He was also convicted of possession of a controlled drug of class B – cannabis.

James was sentenced to a total of 16 weeks for four counts of theft from a shop and was also ordered to pay costs of £85.00 to the Crown Prosecution Service and victim surcharge of £154.

Police Sergeant Duncan Reynolds, of Hereford City Centre Team, said: “Thomas and James were both arrested soon after being identified by officers.

“We work with our retail partners to tackle shoplifters, and these sentences show we will always pursue offenders operating in our city and bring them to justice.”