Two men have been jailed for 10 months after stealing goods from Dartford and North Kent businesses.

During October 2023, Jamie Hopkins and Adam Roberts were both subject to criminal behaviour orders that banned them from entering several retail outlets including any Co-op store.

On October 19, Hopkins, of Browning Road in Dartford, attempted to steal boxes of cigarettes from behind a counter at the Co-op in Talbot Lane, Swanscombe.

He was challenged by a shop worker before leaving.

Three days later, Hopkins and Roberts stole a quantity of meat and laundry products from the same shop.

On October 27, two bottles of spirits were stolen by Roberts from behind a counter at the Co-op in Oldfield Place in Dartford.

On the following day, both men were arrested after they were seen by a police officer entering Co-op in Castle Hill.

Hopkins, and Roberts, of no fixed address, were both charged by investigators from the North Kent Victim Based Crime Team, with one count of theft and three breaches of their criminal behaviour orders.

Roberts, 36, was also charged with a burglary at the Co-op in Oldfield Place, Dartford.

Hopkins, 39, was charged with a count of burglary at the Co-op in Talbot Lane, Swanscombe.

Both pleaded guilty at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday October 30 and were remanded in custody.

On Tuesday May 14, 2024, at Maidstone Crown Court, Hopkins and Roberts were both jailed for 10 months.

Police Sergeant Dan Horsley said: “These men have showed complete contempt for the law by continuing to shoplift while under conditions imposed by a court, not to enter the premises they were targeting.

“This type of crime ultimately increases prices for law-abiding customers and can have an impact on the ability of some shops to continue trading.

“Criminal behaviour orders are a chance for offenders to moderate their behaviour and, if they fail to seize this opportunity, a prison sentence is the most likely sanction.”