A habitual shoplifter, Craig Sawyer, aged 51, has been sentenced to 42 weeks in prison and is subject to a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). His sentencing took place at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Monday, January 6. Sawyer, who has no fixed address, is now banned from entering Worcestershire county and all Boots stores nationwide under the terms of his CBO.

On Saturday, January 4, Sawyer was arrested at a Co-op in Malvern. He was found guilty of 16 counts of theft from stores, which included 12 Boots locations—five in Evesham and five in Malvern—as well as thefts from Boots in Walsall and Shrewsbury, two Co-ops on Worcester Road in Malvern, B&Q in Malvern, and Savers in Newport, Shropshire.

The total value of the thefts from March to December 2024 amounted to £11,475.55. Boots confirmed that Sawyer was responsible for £28,000 in thefts from their stores across the UK.

Witnesses noted that Sawyer often dyed his hair in various colors and wore glasses to disguise himself. Upon his arrest, he was found with several different outer jackets but consistently carried his favorite brown shoulder bag, earning him the nickname 'Satchel Man' in many of the stores he targeted.

During the court session on January 6, Sawyer received an additional 22 weeks in prison, which will run consecutively, as a suspended sentence was activated for two counts of theft from shops in Uttoxeter totaling £800.35 and for going equipped for theft on October 10, 2024.

Safer Neighbourhood Inspector for Wychavon and Malvern, Dave Wise, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the sentence and CBO serve to protect retailers in the long run. He emphasized the importance of working relationships with local stores in addressing retail crime.

PC Paul Slaymaker, focusing on shoplifting in Worcestershire, noted that the successful prosecution was a result of collaboration with retail staff. He stated that understanding Sawyer's operations allowed them to effectively report incidents and predict his next moves, ultimately leading to his capture.