A prolific criminal who has clocked up 24 convictions for theft offences has been banned from shops in Wisbech.

Scott McSpadden, 39, was arrested by an officer from Wisbech’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) on Monday (September 18) after he was spotted on Freedom Bridge.

The officer recalled McSpadden was wanted for the theft of 15 packs of cheese from Aldi the previous week and attempted to stop him, but McSpadden ran off.

He was soon detained in a nearby charity shop and found in possession of a small bag of crack cocaine.

McSpadden, of Lynn Road, Wisbech, appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on September 19 where he was handed the two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after admitting theft from a shop and being in possession of crack cocaine.

He must also pay a total of £290 in fines and court costs.

The CBO states he must not:

Enter the Horsefair Shopping Centre in Wisbech – except to attend a named pharmacy

Enter any shopping store at the same time as a named person

Breaching the order is a criminal offence.

Sergeant Dave Arnold, from the Wisbech Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “McSpadden is a prolific thief who has been causing an issue for our retailers in the town.

"He has a long history of shoplifting offences – 21 convictions in the last 20 years, seven of which have been in the last year.

“I’m pleased we have been able to secure this court order which we will now be enforcing – if McSpadden is caught where he shouldn’t be, he will be arrested and put back before the courts.

“If we need to return to the court to vary any conditions due to displacement, we will do so.”

Anyone with information about McSpadden breaching the CBO should report to police online or call 101.