A serial Swindon shoplifter has admitted to stealing up to £1,800 worth of goods from the town centre.

37-year-old Martin Morgan, of Sheppard Street, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft at Swindon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, December 20.

The goods were stolen from Boots, Poundland and the Co-op in the town centre.

Morgan was arrested as part of Operation Dasher which has seen officers from neighbourhood policing teams conduct additional high visibility patrols and offer crime prevention advice at a policing pop up shop in The Parade.

PC John Bezzant said: “Operation Dasher has continued to be a successful operation reducing both crime and anti-social behaviour.

"These successes have continued due to the commitment of our community partners, which include the local business and retail stores, CCTV operators and inSwindon Ambassadors.

“The local community policing teams have welcomed the pop-up shop as a means to engage with our communities in a different setting. We hope to build upon this engagement opportunity in the new year as the Swindon Hub is a great community initiative that we have been welcomed in to.”

Morgan also admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order four times and has been released on bail ahead of sentencing at Swindon Crown Court on January 20, 2023.

Operation Dasher will run until Christmas Eve and has led to a number of Section 35 dispersal orders being issued in the town centre because of anti-social behaviour.

The patrols have also led to several other arrests. Liam Smith, 34, was found guilty of two offences of thefts from Wilko in The Parade and sentenced to 16 weeks in prison on Monday, December 19.

Jade Nicholson, 26, of Thornford Drive in Westlea was also arrested on suspicion of theft in The Parade. She has been charged and released on bail after allegedly shoplifting from H&M and is due to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on March 8, 2023.

Kane Gavin, 29, who live in Potton Close, Coventry, will also appear in Swindon Magistrates Court that day. He was arrested on suspicion of theft from Marks and Spencers in Regent Street on Monday, December 19. He has since been charged with theft.