A PROLIFIC shoplifter has been jailed for beaching his Criminal Behaviour Order at Gatwick Airport.

About 2.50am on Tuesday 12 November, police received a report of a theft at Marks and Spencer, in the North Terminal.

A man had entered the store, which was closed to customers, through a small gap in the shutters. The gap was being used by staff and maintenance workers to carry out refurbishments.

They challenged the man and asked him to leave. As he did so, he grabbed two bottles of rum worth £16.99 each and ran from the store.

He was chased and detained, and identified as Darren Pullen, 52, unemployed, of no fixed address.

The two bottles he stole were recovered, one of which had already been opened and partially consumed.

Enquiries revealed Pullen was subject to a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order imposed by Horsham Magistrates’ Court 24 July due to a history of similar offences.

This prohibits him from entering any premises displaying a Crawley or Gatwick Shopwatch sticker, and entering Gatwick Airport unless as a passenger with proof of a valid ticket.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order, and remanded in custody to appear before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 12 November.

He pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced to a total of 12 weeks’ imprisonment, and ordered to pay £16.99 compensation.