Tuesday, August 19, 2025
A shoplifter has been jailed after breaching a Criminal Behaviour order preventing him from entering specific shops both in Skelmersdale and the UK.
Yesterday, 18th August, Stuart Astley was arrested in connection with a string of thefts from B&M and Co-Op stores in Skelmersdale and Upholland between 28th July and 7th August 2025. He was later charged with three counts of theft from a shop and four counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO)
Last month, he was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order which prevents him from entering Tawd Valley Retail Park and any B&M store in the UK.
Astley, 43 of Caister Close, Skelmersdale, appeared at Preston Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to four months in prison.
PC Rebecca Birchall from West Lancashire’s Neighbourhood Policing team said: “Retail crime can have a significant negative impact on businesses, shop staff and our local communities and this action shows just how seriously we are tackling it.
“We will continue to closely monitor those who have been issued Criminal Behaviour Orders and act quickly if they continue offending in our shops so that it feels safe and secure for all those to live, work in and visit West Lancashire.”
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.
The operation sees dedicated officers undertaking hotspot patrolling, increasing their visibility in targeted areas and creating strong partnerships with retailers across the county to better share intelligence, get a deeper understanding of retail crime and identify more offenders.