'Nuisance' shoplifter jailed over multiple thefts

Police said Sally Knowles had "been causing nothing but trouble"

A "nuisance" shoplifter has been jailed after she was caught stealing chocolates and breaching a ban preventing her from visiting a town centre.

Sally Knowles was given a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) in February this year, banning her from visiting the Forest Road area of Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, and any of the stores she had stolen from previously.

But Nottinghamshire Police said she targeted shops in the town - many in the area she was banned from - 13 times in July and August.

The 40-year-old, who was given a suspended sentence over her stealing in March, was jailed for 10 months at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

Police said Knowles's previous criminal behaviour, which also saw her "scavenge through people's sheds for items", made her a "familiar face" in the town.

Her latest crime spree came to an end on 14 August when officers were alerted by shop workers and arrived to catch her leaving a store with stolen chocolates.

Knowles, of Bentinck Close, Ollerton, went on to plead guilty to 11 counts of theft, two attempted thefts, and an assault, and 14 breaches of her CBO.

In addition to being jailed, her CBO was amended to ban her from entering any garden without invitation.

Sgt Christian Hurley said: "Knowles is a well-known shoplifter who has been causing nothing but trouble in Ollerton for some time now.

“Despite being put before the courts several times and receiving multiple warnings, she has not learnt her lesson."