A gang of shoplifters have been convicted for stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods from big names stores across High Wycombe, including John Lewis and Next.

The two men and two women, all from High Wycombe, pleaded guilty to a spate of crimes at High Wycombe stores over a four-month period and have been fined more than £5,500.

Beverly Webb, Leslie Stennett, Kenneth Jackson and Kelly Dean were part of a group which regularly targeted John Lewis, Next, Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores between September 2015 and January 2016.

Case files:

  • Webb, 52, of Clarke Drive, pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft from a shop and was jailed for 22 weeks. She has been ordered to pay compensation to John Lewis, Next and Co-op stores of £2,456.85.
  • Stennett, 47, of New Road, pleaded guilty to five counts of theft from a shop and was given a 12-week sentenced, suspended for 12 months. He has been ordered to complete a Rehabilitation Requirement and ordered to pay compensation to John Lewis, Sainsbury's and Next stores of £259.99, as well as pay court costs of £380.
  • Jackson, 51, of The Acres, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a shop and was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Jackson has been ordered to complete a Rehabilitation Requirement and ordered to pay £20 compensation to Sainsbury's and Next, as well as to pay court costs of £580.
  • Dean, 19, of Tilling Crescent, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from a shop and was sentenced to a community order, subject to a curfew and supervision by the Probation Service for a rehabilitation of four months. She has been ordered to pay £1,970 compensation to John Lewis, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Co-op stores.

All four were sentenced at Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on July 4.

Investigating officer PC Rob Howell, from the Chepping Wye Valley Neighbourhood team, said: "We work closely with many stores in the High Wycombe area to tackle shoplifting and bring offenders to justice.

“I am pleased that these four individuals have been successfully convicted of more than twenty counts of theft from a shop.

"I want to thank the stores for their help throughout these cases. By working together we have shown that this crime will not be tolerated and offenders will be pursued."