Friday, March 6, 2026
A Skelmersdale man has been jailed after breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) that banned him from entering several shops in the town.
The action follows a series of thefts in which items including razors, moisturising products, and chocolate, worth more than £250 in total, were stolen from multiple stores.
Michael Corkhill, 51, Caister Close, Skelmersdale, was arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of shop theft and one count of breaching a CBO.
He appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 3 March 2026, where he pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison.
The CBO, issued in April 2025, prohibits Corkhill from entering Tawd Valley Retail Park, Asda, and B&M Bargains in Skelmersdale for a period of three years.
Sgt Rachael Jackson, from the West Lancashire Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“Shoplifting has a significant impact on local businesses and the communities they serve. It is not a victimless crime.
“Through Operation Vulture, we will continue working closely with partners to ensure shoplifters are brought before the courts and held accountable for their actions.”
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s dedicated response to tackling shoplifting across the county, supported by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw.
The initiative involves targeted hotspot patrols, increased police visibility, and strengthened partnerships with retailers to improve intelligence sharing, deepen understanding of retail crime, and identify offenders more effectively.