A SHOPLIFTER has been banned from two Basildon garages for two years after magistrates heard he'd committed offences while on bail.

John Brace, 34, was jailed for a total of 12 months at a hearing before Southend magistrates on 11 June for a total of 24 thefts from the BP garage shops in East Mayne and Nether Mayne between 1 May and 10 June 2025. He'd previously admitted all the charges, together with another one of common assault.

A separate request for Brace to be banned from entering the two garages was heard by the court on 7 October and magistrates granted it, to run for two years.

The court heard Brace was originally arrested by an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer in April for 16 thefts at the two garage shops. He was given a community order which he breached by committing the thefts in May and June.

Brace was arrested for a second time on 10 May. Within three minutes of police being called, a Basildon Local Policing Team officer located and detained him near one of the shops. Despite being on court bail, Brace committed a further 13 thefts, before being arrested again. He was jailed for a year the following day.

Now, following an application on 7 October at Southend Magistrates' Court, Brace was made the subject of a criminal behaviour order forbidding him for entering the BP garage shops in East Mayne and Nether Mayne.

Inspector Steve Parry, of Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team, says: "Brace was jailed for disregarding the law and now has been made subject to a criminal behaviour order which means that, if he breaches it, he faces another jail term.

"His behaviour will have had a damaging effect on staff and customers at the stores he targeted but I hope they are reassured by his jail sentence and the shops ban."

The number of shop thefts across the Basildon district fell by 8.5%, or 140 offences in the year to 30 September 2025, compared with the previous 12 months.

Insp Parry adds: "We encourage retailers to report shop thefts to us. This, together with good quality CCTV footage and witness statements, helps us to secure convictions at court, as we did in this case.

"We work closely with local retailers on a range of issues which includes advice on how to make their businesses and their staff less vulnerable to crime."