A 34-year-old shoplifter from Crawley has been handed a suspended sentence, rehabilitation orders and a wide-ranging Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) following a series of thefts at local retail outlets.
The defendant, Max Huggett of Steyning Close, Northgate, Crawley, appeared before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 17 October. He was identified on CCTV in operations targeting several shops in the Crawley/West Sussex area.
The offences, which took place between April and September this year, involved entry into multiple retail premises including stores operated by Tesco, Co‑op and a petrol station under Applegreen. Items stolen are reported to be worth nearly £900.
Huggett already has 15 previous convictions for theft-related matters.
The court handed down a 16-week suspended sentence, meaning the sentence will come into effect if the conditions are breached. As part of the punishment:
- He must complete six months of drug rehabilitation treatment.
- He must undertake 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) sessions.
- A Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) has been issued with the following prohibitions:
- He is banned from all Tesco stores in Crawley (West Sussex) and Horley (Surrey).
- He is banned from all Co-op stores in Crawley.
- He is banned from the Next store in Crawley.
- He must not remain on any retail premises in the county of Sussex if asked to leave by shop staff.
Chief Inspector Steven Turner (Crawley District Commander) commented on the case:
“Huggett has been a prolific thief in stores in Sussex, targeting them to steal food items and laundry products in particular.”
He described the modus operandi captured on CCTV: entering stores, often carrying a rucksack or plastic bag, filling it with items, then leaving without paying.
Chief Inspector Turner also emphasised the impact of shoplifting on businesses and shop workers, and the commitment of Sussex Police to work closely with retailers, make full use of technology, and investigate all reasonable lines of enquiry when reports are received.
He encouraged members of the public who may be impacted or witness breaches of such orders to report them via 101.
This case illustrates several key points:
- The value of CCTV and other technology in identifying repeat offenders.
- The utility of Criminal Behaviour Orders in imposing targeted restrictions on individuals with a history of offending.
- The importance of reporting retail theft to help law-enforcement build intelligence and take action.
- That even for less sensational offences (shoplifting rather than violent crime), the cumulative impact on businesses, staff and local communities is taken seriously by the police.
Huggett must comply with the rehabilitation requirements and the terms of the CBO. Should he breach those conditions, the suspended sentence may be activated. Retailers and police in Sussex will likely monitor the situation, and any violation of the ban from premises is actionable by law enforcement.
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