Kirsten Hocking jailed over Worthing shoplifting again

Kirsten Hocking, 29, was ordered not to enter Worthing town centre for five years over her prolific crime sprees.

But she once again broke the court order and threatened staff members at the Boots store in Montague Street.

“I have a needle and I will use it,” she shouted.

During her latest spree she stole perfume, alcohol and pet food from shops in the town centre between November and January 12.

It put her in breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order where she was told to stay out of town.

Hocking had previously admitted breaching the order in December.

Now she has been jailed for six months after admitting five counts of theft, five counts of breaching her CBO, one count of attempted theft, and two counts of causing harassment, alarm or distress because of her abusive behaviour.

Read more on Kirsten Hocking:

• Worthing shoplifter jailed for spate of thefts (from September 2019)
• Kirsten Hocking stole Yankee Candles, washing tablets and frozen prawns in crime spree 
• Shop thief Kirsten Hocking jailed over raid at Boots in Worthing (May 2020)
• Kirsten Hocking BANNED from major retailers for her constant thieving (August 2020)

PC Isobel Wimbleton said: “Hocking has caused considerable loss, frustration and distress to shops in the Worthing area and we hope she reflects on her behaviour.

"We have worked tirelessly taking Hocking through the anti-social behaviour crime and policing process where she had numerous opportunities to stop offending but she has continued to do so.

Worthing shoplifter Kirsten Hocking has been jailed again

“This conviction follows over a year's worth of work by the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and we are pleased the court has recognised the impact of her offending by imposing the maximum possible sentence.

"Adur, Worthing and Horsham NPT work in partnership to tackle anti-social behaviour and are committed to tackling repeat offenders and keeping the area safe."

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Previously The Argus reported how Hocking, of Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, got a five-year ban to stop her entering shops or businesses situated in Montague Street, Rowlands Road, South Street, Warwick Street and Chapel Road in the town.

It was also meant to stop Hocking entering the Montague Centre, the Tesco store in Goring Road, Lidl in North Street, and Boots at Lyons Farm.

She was previously jailed for six months last April after admitting eight shoplifting offences.

Courts also banned her from entering every Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, Wilkinson, and Poundland store in the country because of her prolific thieving.