Southsea shop thief who assaulted staff and smashed window during coffee raid is jailed

Jay Marsh, 30, of Hudson Road, Southsea, was sentenced to five months in prison by city magistrates on Monday, as well as receiving a criminal behaviour order.

Marsh stole several items – including jars of coffee – from the Farmfoods store, Fratton Road, on January 15 about 9am, when he smashed a window and assaulted three people, who received minor injuries.

He is now banned from entering any Co-op and any Southern Co-op store in Portsmouth for two years as well as entering any shop in the company of another person for two years.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by beating, two counts of criminal damage and one count of theft.

The prosecution was a result of Op Monster, which sees officers work with city businesses to tackle aggravated shoplifting and other offences against them.

A police statement said: ‘We will always do our best to signpost suspects to support services, of which there are many in the city.

‘These services help and support a huge number of people to become contributing members of society or simply the best version of themselves that they can be. For a small minority, support is not enough and prosecution is the only option.

‘We will focus our activities on preventing these type of offences occurring and ensuring the courts have the full facts on which to sentence those that commit such crimes.

‘Our overall aim is to ensure that residents and store workers can go about their business free from the risk of assault or having to witness such incidents.’

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A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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