CCTV shows 'menace' shoplifter stuffing 23 cans of deodorant into bag
19th December 2023

CCTV captures moment ‘menace’ shoplifter stuffs 23 cans of deodorant into her supersized bag before chased out of Poundland – as thief, 41, is jailed

  • Michelle Blades, 41, was seen on CCTV carrying out multiple brazen thefts

A shoplifter has been jailed for three months after a crime spree that saw her steal 23 cans of deodorant from Poundland and 40 bars of chocolate from Co-op.

Michelle Blades, 41, has 82 offences to her name and was branded a ‘menace’ by a judge.

She was arrested at the Ortongate Shopping Centre in Cambridgeshire by neighbourhood policing officers on patrol in the area.

They were approached by a member of the public who pointed her out and said they had just seen her shoplifting from a nearby Poundland.

CCTV footage shows Blades struggling to carry a supersized bag, which appears to be crammed with her loot of body spray stolen from the discount shop.

Michelle Blades, 41, (pictured) has 82 offences to her name and was branded a ‘menace’

Blades, of Dogsthorpe, Cambridgeshire, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on December 13 where she was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison. Pictured, Blades captured on CCTV apparently shoplifting

As officers approached her, she dropped a carrier bag containing 23 cans of deodorant, resulting in her arrest on December 12.

Blades, of Dogsthorpe, Cambridgeshire, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on December 13 where she was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £229 in compensation to Co-op after admitting four counts of theft from a shop.

CCTV footage shows her routinely entering shops, brazenly filling bags with goods and then walking out.

Blades was also ordered to pay £229 in compensation to Co-op after admitting four counts of theft from a shop

CCTV footage shows her routinely entering shops, brazenly filling bags with goods and then walking out

Her previous two-year CBO states Blades must not enter the Co-operative store in Oundle Road, Peterborough, Poundland in Ortongate Shopping Centre, Peterborough, and a nearby pharmacy. Pictured, a general view of Ortongate Shopping Centre

She took Cadbury’s chocolate worth £79.90 from a Co-op on November 20, as well as 40 chocolate bars from the same store a week later and 15 bottles of washing up liquid from the store on December 3.

Afterwards, she stole £80.50 worth of deodorant cans from Poundland in the Ortongate Shopping Centre.

PC Carter-Lawrence, who investigated for Cambridgeshire Police, said: ‘Blades is a prolific shoplifter who has been targeting Co-op stores in the past.

‘She has an active Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which prohibits her from entering certain stores where she has been offending.

‘Having this order in place gives us greater powers to stop Blades’ offending and put her before the courts if she breaches it.’

Her previous two-year CBO states Blades must not enter the Co-operative store in Oundle Road, Peterborough, Poundland in Ortongate Shopping Centre, Peterborough, and a nearby pharmacy.

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