Two repeat shoplifters from Taunton have been sentenced following a string of thefts at local retailers. Kim Parkhouse, 36, and Mark Cripps, 45, were both handed prison terms at Taunton Magistrates' Court on Monday, May 19, after separate but related investigations into their criminal activities.
Parkhouse received a 20-week prison sentence for her role in ten shoplifting incidents between March 5 and May 18 this year. Her crimes involved stealing a total of £1,962 worth of goods, including cleaning products, garden furniture, and children’s toys, from stores such as WHSmith, Homesense, and B&M.
Cripps was sentenced to 42 weeks in prison, which also included revoking an 18-week suspended sentence due to his recent offenses. Between March 3 and April 30, he committed seven shop thefts, stealing items valued at £1,768. His stolen goods ranged from electrical items to garden furniture and cleaning supplies, primarily from Homesense and B&M.
READ MORE: Top Swim Coach Rachel Aldington Joins Taunton School to Lead Elite Swimming Programme
READ MORE: Sir Rod Stewart to Reunite with Ronnie Wood at Glastonbury Festival
One particularly bold incident involved Cripps entering a store accompanied by another man. He selected a large piece of garden furniture worth £699 and simply walked out without attempting to pay.
PC Spencer Bishop from the Somerset West Neighbourhood Policing Team emphasized the impact of these crimes: “Shoplifting causes significant damage to our communities and businesses. Both Parkhouse and Cripps have repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the harm they cause.”
He continued, “In one case, Cripps brazenly carried off expensive garden furniture without paying. In another, Parkhouse, alongside two others, took a sofa and chairs worth over £1,000. We remain committed to bringing offenders like these to justice through the courts.”