A man who has stolen thousands of pounds worth of goods from shops in Eastbourne is now banned from entering several major retailers under a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).
Lee Parnaby, 32, of Terminus Road, Eastbourne, appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on January 7, facing two charges of shoplifting, to which he pleaded guilty. Sussex Police revealed that Parnaby has been convicted of 50 counts of shoplifting since March 2024, marking him as one of the area’s most prolific offenders.
Criminal Behaviour Order to Curb Reoffending
At the hearing, Sussex Police applied for a CBO, which was granted by the court. The order, valid for five years, prohibits Parnaby from entering several key retailers across East Sussex, including:
All Co-Op and Sainsbury’s stores in East Sussex
Marks and Spencer, Terminus Road, Eastbourne
Tesco, Asda, and Morrisons stores in Eastbourne
Remaining in any retail premises in Sussex after being asked to leave
The order aims to prevent further thefts and reduce the distress caused to retail staff and customers.
Police Statement on CBO Success
Inspector Sarah Taylor from the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Policing Team praised the court’s decision, stating:
“Lee Parnaby is a prolific offender who repeatedly targeted the same stores, causing distress and fear to staff and customers. Sussex Police will use every avenue available to deal with offenders like him.
Taylor emphasised the importance of protecting local businesses, adding:
“This CBO for Parnaby is a real success and serves to protect retailers in the longer term. We are committed to improving working relationships with local stores. Anyone choosing to offend in this way should know that if they do not take the support offered to address their behaviour, we will not hesitate in escalating matters.”
