Barry Ingram, banned from all Co-ops in Stoke-on-Trent, jailed for 12 months after stealing food nine times.
Barry is 44. He actually can’t go to any Co-op in the area. A court order banned him back in 2023. He totally ignored that. He stole food nine times from the Co-op.
He went to the one on Knypersley Road in Norton. He took about £500 worth of things! The court sentenced him to 12 months. He’s got a record already. He has 33 convictions from 115 crimes.
The police asked him why he did it. Barry said the cost of living was too high. He knew he wasn’t allowed in that store, though. He admitted to stealing nine times. He also admitted to breaking the court order each time.
His lawyer, Anis Ali, knew jail was likely. Barry and his partner don’t have much money, said Anis. Anis said Barry stole food for himself and his partner. He also struggled with drug use then. He isn’t using now while in custody, though.
The judge mentioned Barry broke the order repeatedly. He went on a shoplifting spree at the Co-op. He nabbed bacon, cheese, chocolate, and meat. He even had a suspended sentence at the time.
The judge called Barry a professional thief. He stole to pay for a serious drug problem. The judge said he wasted the last 21 years of his life on drugs! These crimes are serious. Only jail makes sense, the judge stated.
