A prolific thief has been swiftly jailed after breaching a court order stopping him from entering shops across a town.

Jesse Barton was sentenced two days after being arrested.

Barton, 37, had been issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in August 2024 that banned him from multiple retailers in Ashford, including Ashford Designer Outlet and the Co-op at Brookfield Court.

Despite the restrictions, he visited the grocery store last Sunday and returned twice the next day, stealing food, alcohol, and household goods.

He also targeted the town’s Loudon Way Co-op branch, from where he took £180 worth of items without paying for them.

Last Tuesday, he made off with clothes valued at £650 from a retailer at Ashford Designer Outlet at Kimberley Way.

Barton was traced and arrested later that day and was subsequently charged.

Barton, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to five counts of shoplifting and four breaches of a CBO when he appeared before Folkestone magistrates yesterday (Thursday).

He was sentenced the same day to five months’ imprisonment.

Inspector Sarah Williams said: “In targeting these retailers, Barton has shown a blatant disregard for the court order he has been issued, which is in place to protect businesses and communities.

“The outcome in this case demonstrates how effective CBOs can be, and should serve to warn others who are under similar restrictions not to breach them—or they could soon be facing a spell in prison.”