A "REPEAT" shoplifter has been sent to jail.

Following a series of reported thefts and shoplifting episodes, Sean Patrick Murray was arrested and charged with several offences.

Charged with five counts of theft and shoplifting and four breaches of his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), Murray was remanded to appear before Wigan and Leigh magistrates’ court yesterday (Thursday, November 21).

Following his case, magistrates sentenced Murray to 8 weeks in prison and ordered to pay compensation to the victims.

Murray's case follows an investigation by GMP's Tyldesley Neighbourhood Team, with offences committed at Co-Op, Stour Road, Astley and ALDI in Tyldesley.

Retail crime is said to be priority of the Neighbourhood Team, who state they will continue to utilise legislation under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act to obtain CBOs on repeat offenders that cause the most harm to protect our retailers and improve community safety.

With shoplifting offences becoming a common problem across the borough, including Leigh town centre and Parsonage Retail Park, officers have implemented a targeted approach to tackle shoplifting hotspots, improve security, build better relationships with stores, and target repeat offenders.