A 'prolific shoplifter' has been sentenced in relation to three high-value thefts, collectively worth up to £2,000.

Martin Smith, 41, was sentenced at Tameside Magistrates Court for three theft offences in Stockport town centre.

Smith has been given a 20-week custodial sentence - suspended for 12 months - and a criminal behaviour order; he is now banned from entering Merseyway Shopping Centre for two years.

Officers from the Stockport town centre police team arrested him on Sunday 17 March after he entered Superdrug and stole a number of expensive beauty products.

After filling his coat with items, and ignoring efforts from staff to make him stop, he left the store - CCTV operators found he had run to a nearby tower block, and then entered a flat within the building.

The man stole £500 of equipment from Stockport Superdrug, on Mersey Square (Image - Nub News)

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police described the moment officers arrived at that flat: "Police arrived and entered [...] to find the offender in question hiding behind a clothes airer. He was arrested on suspicion of theft. The stolen goods were recovered."

He was later linked to two other high-value thefts, "based on overwhelming evidence in the form of CCTV and witness statements".

Speaking of the arrest, PC Leadbetter-Smith from Stockport town centre's police team said: "This was a really satisfying result and a great example of teamwork. Staff [at Superdrug] were quick to report the incident and Stockport Homes Group CCTV operators were equally quick to track the offender.

"We did our part and responded as quickly as we could, which in turn led to a great result; a prolific offender was arrested and we were able to return over £500 of stock to the store.

"Hopefully this send a strong message to criminals - you can run but you can't hide!"

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