Shoplifting twins who attacked officers jailed

Itlaf and Abid Hussain targeted one supermarket 10 times in three weeks

Prolific shoplifting twins have been jailed for assaulting police officers and a string of thefts from the same supermarket.

Itlaf and Abid Hussain, 39, were arrested in February after repeatedly targeting a Morrisons Daily in the Bretton Centre, Peterborough.

Ten times between16 January and 6 February the pair stole a variety of items including meat, laundry products, alcohol and confectionary worth more than £1,500.

Both men admitted the offences at a previous hearing with Itlaf jailed for nine months and Abid for a year.

Abid Hussain, who was subject to a criminal behaviour order (CBO) preventing him entering the Bretton centre, was arrested on 7 February.

Once in custody he lunged at a female officer, Cambridgeshire Police said.

The next day his brother was arrested and spat in the faces of two officers.

Abid Hussain, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for 10 counts of non-dwelling burglary, 10 counts of breaching a CBO and assaulting an emergency worker.

Itlaf Hussain, of Lutton Grove, Westwood, Peterborough, was sentenced to nine months in prison for 10 counts of theft from a shop and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

PC Josh Wright, who investigated, said: “The Hussain brothers are both prolific in their offending, which is why we had been able to secure a CBO against Abid in November last year, resulting in him being charged with business burglary as opposed to theft from a shop as he was trespassing on premises he was banned from.

“As police officers, we accept we are often faced by the unknown and unpleasant situations, however, being assaulted and spat at is completely degrading and I’m pleased the courts have recognised this.”

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