A serial shoplifter who was banned from every Co-op in Sussex has been jailed for threatening staff and brazenly stealing from shops.

Damien O'Hare as banned from entering any Co-op store in the county but repeatedly targeted stores by walking out with items in full view of staff.

On one occasion he threatened to violently assault a female member of staff who challenged him about his behaviour.

A hearing at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, August 14, heard that O'Hare would repeatedly target the Co-op shop in Dorsten Square in Bewbush near Crawley.

He would walk in and take goods without paying in full view of staff - targeting some stores multiple times a day.

Each time he stole from Co-op was in breach of a court order banning him from all the stores in Sussex.

All of the offences were committed between March and June 2024.

O'Hare, of no fixed address, was charged with 26 counts of shoplifting, 22 counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and one count of using insulting or threatening language.

Damien O'HareDamien O'Hare (Image: Sussex Police)

He pleaded guilty to all of the charges and was jailed for three years and three months.

Sussex Police DCI Pauline Lane said: “The vast scale of Damien O’Hare’s offending shows a man with absolutely no regard for the intimidation and financial harm he was causing these businesses and their employees.

“Shoplifting is far from a victimless crime. Shopworkers should feel comfortable going to work without having to face threats or putting themselves at risk by confronting brazen criminals.

“We will continue to work closely with our business community to protect them, make it easier to report crime and share intelligence to allow us to target prolific offenders such as O’Hare.”