A two month crime spree saw Alex Bignell “deliberately and repeatedly” target stores including branches of the Co-Op and a Pact charity shop across Norwich.

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Magistrates said his offending was so serious that it “passed the custody threshold” but they decided to suspend a 16 week sentence for 12 months.

The 35-year-old was previously jailed for 12 months in 2023 following multiple business burglaries across Banbury in Oxfordshire.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told his latest Norwich offences occurred between October 4 and November 27 last year.

Dylan Ward-Murtagh, prosecuting, said: “This was not sophisticated but it was deliberate with clear planning involved.

“He would smash glass using a hammer to gain entry and steal items like alcohol to the value of hundreds of pounds.”

Alex Bignell admitted a string of store burglaries and shoplifting offences (Image: Newsquest)

Among the businesses hit were the Morrison's Daily on Colman Road, where he stole £370 worth of alcohol, and the Colman Road Co-Op which he broke into twice, getting behind the counter kiosk to steal vodka and tobacco worth almost £300.

He also entered as trespasser at two other Co-Ops at Earlham Green Lane and on Lovelace Road where he stole alcohol, a till cash box and money from a charity box.

Bignell, of Rockingham Road in Norwich, pleaded guilty to six burglaries and 12 separate shoplifting offences where he stole goods from shops including expensive items from Nike on Riverside and Cotswold Outdoor.

Bignell also stole from stores including Nike on Riverside in Norwich (Image: Google)

Richard Mann, mitigating, said he had since sought support for issues including drug addiction and was now “clearly rehabilitated”.

“That is a credit to him and his family and he wants to continue that work he has undertaken,” he added.

Magistrates ordered him to do 20 rehabilitation days and 40 hours of unpaid work.

They also imposed a three year criminal behaviour order that includes bans from Riverside, Waitrose at Eaton, Farm Foods, and other stores including every Co-Op in Norfolk.

© Norwich Evening News