'Master of disguise' shoplifter banned from county

Craig Sawyer was described as "an evasive and prolific thief"

A shoplifter who became known for his use of disguises has been jailed for 43 weeks and banned from all Boots stores as well as the county of Worcestershire.

Craig Sawyer, 51, of no fixed abode, admitted 16 thefts last year at shops across Worcestershire, Shropshire and Walsall, with the items stolen worth nearly £11,500.

After Monday's hearing, police revealed how Sawyer had become known as "satchel man", because he always took his favourite brown shoulder bag with him.

He was known to dye his hair different colours and used glasses and jackets to change his appearance - but his favourite accessory gave him away.

Dave Wise, Safer Neighbourhood Inspector for Wychavon and Malvern, said a focus on retail crime had helped West Mercia Police officers to catch "this evasive and prolific thief".

Neighbourhood PC Paul Slaymaker said: "We were able to work with retail staff closely in Evesham and Malvern to understand how Sawyer was operating and to encourage effective reporting at the right time to enable us to get one step ahead."

Sawyer admitted thefts from 12 Boots branches, including five in Evesham, five in Malvern, one in Walsall and one in Shrewsbury.

He admitted two thefts at a Malvern Co-op and thefts at B&Q in Malvern and Savers in Newport.

He received a 20-week concurrent jail term for each theft.

Sawyer was also given a five-year criminal behaviour order, under which he must stay out of Boots and not enter Worcestershire - except for travelling through the county in vehicles or on trains.

In addition, he received a further 22-week sentence, to be served consecutively, after the case activated a suspended term relating to two thefts from shops in Uttoxeter in October and an offence of going equipped for theft.

Police said the first 16 thefts were of items worth a total of £11,475.55 and the Uttoxeter thefts totalled £800.35.

Sawyer was given a further week in jail for possession of Class A drug cocaine.