The problem of shoplifting seems to be a great concern in Swindon with many businesses previously reporting to the Adver a spike in thefts since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here is a list of some of the criminals convicted of shoplifting from supermarkets in Swindon already in 2024.

Matthew Glover

Matthew Glover of Stamford Close in Toothill stole a bottle of Whiskey from the Asda store in West Swindon.

The offence took place just five days before Christmas on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

The 50-year-old was convicted of theft from a shop on Wednesday, January 24 at Swindon Magistrates Court. Glover pleaded guilty and was fined £200.

Michael McDonagh

McDonagh stole a total of £342 worth of items from Morrisons and Aldi and has been handed a 12-month prison sentence.

This sentence is the accumulation of these offences and three others that he committed on the same day and the fact that he broke his license by committing these crimes.

The 45 year-old stole goods valued at £128 from the Morrisons Daily in Braydon Court on Sunday, December 10.

On the same day, he stole £214 worth of goods from Aldi on Holby Drive. He was handed a 6-month prison sentence which will be served consecutively to an offence of fraud which he also received 6 months.

McDonagh pleaded guilty to both the offences of theft at Swindon Magistrates Court on Monday, January 29. He will have to pay £342 in compensation and has been handed a 12-month prison sentence.

Aaron Gleed

Gleed committed nine offences of theft and targeted two separate Co-op stores.

The 34-year-old stole meat products, pots of baby formula and store baskets on multiple occasions from the Co-operative store in Covingham Square.  The total of the products across the five separate charges of theft was £509.15. The offences were committed on December 14, 20 and 29, 2023 and then on January 2 and 5, 2024.

Gleed also stole a total of eight bottles of spirit worth £235.95 across five days from the Co-operative store in Cavendish Square. He stole two bottles at a time in four separate incidents, on December 27, 29, 30 and 31.

These offences were committed while under a suspended sentence. He has been sentenced to nine weeks in prison for these offences. Gleed will serve 23 weeks in custody in total due to the addition of his suspended sentence.

Matin Burrows

The 44-year-old stole £60 worth of meat products from Tesco on January 18. Burrows pleaded guilty to the offence on Tuesday, January 30. He was ordered to pay £60 in compensation for the offence.

Corbyn Rothschild

Rothschild of Affleck Close in Toothill stole prosecco worth £51 from Tesco. He pleaded guilty to the offence which took place on Saturday, January 6 exactly a month later on Tuesday, February 6.

The 36-year-old has not yet been sentenced but will appear back at Swindon Magistrates Court on Monday, February 12.

Ryan Taylor

Ryan Taylor was handed a community order after three offences of theft from Iceland and Sainsburys.

The 41-year-old of Caulfield Road in Gorse Hill stole £41.25 worth of alcohol and food from Iceland. £1.25 worth of food on Friday, October 13, 2023, and £39 worth of alcohol on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

Taylor then stole £20 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's on Monday, July 24.

He was convicted on Monday, January 15, 2024, after pleading guilty and received 150 hours of community service for this offence as well as an offence of assault by beating.