The hit list

The Evening Press can today reveal some of the people behind a wave of petty crime that is sometimes fuelled by drug and alcohol abuse.

Retailers have joined forces to bring persistent offenders to book by targeting and banning convicted thieves from their premises.

But while the hard-hitting scheme has turned some away from crime, it is understood that three offenders could soon be subject to Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to further legally constrain their movements.

Police figures show a dramatic rise in thefts from stores over the festive and New Year period, with 279 recorded arrests in December and 260 in January.

Acting Sergeant Rick Ball said he was pleased some offenders had got the message, but "frustrated" that others were continuing to steal.

He said: "I've got a clear indication that to deal with some of these people I have got to go down the ASBO route to stop them offending, and to make them get the help need to deal with their drug habit."

Retailers Against Crime in York (RACY) launched the shop exclusion scheme last year in a bid to cut the costly toll of theft and deception offences in the city.

Convicted thieves targeted by the order are banned from all 205 RACY stores across York. If they continue to visit these stores, information is compiled to apply for an ASBO to further restrict their movement. A breach of this can result in a prison sentence.

One store detective said: "The bans are having a mixed affect. We don't see some known people any more, but others are walking past everyday with full bags - and they probably aren't shopping."

Speaking about the police statistics, Acting Sgt Ball said: "We do have some shoplifting teams coming in from outside the area, but most of these thefts are committed by people living in York.

"Many of them have gone down the slippery slope of drug abuse and associated crime. I'm frustrated because I want to have an impact on this area.

"I want to drive these figures down. I know the police cannot eradicate shop theft, but we should be able to have an impact. Schemes like this can help deter people from crime."

The Evening Press tried to get hold of copies of the pictures of the offenders which have been issued to all shops in the RACY scheme. We were denied the images because RACY fears breaching the Data Protection Act.

Police also declined to release the images on the grounds that they have a "duty of care" to offenders and they fear breaching their human rights.

The top ten

Prolific offender Jason Francis Smith, 27, of Dijon Avenue, Acomb, was sentenced to three months in prison on February 12 for at least two thefts from shops in York.

In December he had become the first person to be banned under the scheme after admitting stealing T-shirts and perfume.

He was dubbed "target number one" by police and store detectives. He later told the Evening Press he had spent 11 out of the past 12 Christmases in prison.

Peter Anthony Egan, of Montrose Avenue, York, said the ban, given to him after he admitted stealing goods worth £178 from Habitat, High Ousegate, in December, would help keep him out of prison.

The 38-year-old told the Evening Press that his partner was also helping him to stabilise his life, reduce his offending behaviour and stay out of jail.

Marlon Adan Judson, 24, was banned from stores after he admitted stealing goods worth more than £460 from Boots in Coney Street, Mothercare in Clifton Moor, and Netto at Clifton, late last year.

Judson, who has previously been convicted of handling stolen goods, has no fixed address, but has relatives living in the Bishopthorpe Road area of York.

Craig William Osguthorpe (CORR), of Bramham Road, Chapelfields, admitted stealing toys from Woolworths, York, and bacon from Jacksons, Fulford Road, last year.

Police believe the 28-year-old has stopped stealing since he was banned from stores, although he has breached a community punishment order for other offences.

Andrew David Rix, 23, formerly of Vine Street, York, admitted stealing PlayStation games worth almost £80 from the HMV store in Coney Street in January. Police believe he is now of no fixed address.

He has previous convictions for theft and continues to pay off fines imposed at earlier court hearings. He was the fifth person to be banned under the scheme.

Nadia King, 37, became the first woman to be banned from stores across York after she admitted stealing five books worth £145 from Ken Spelman's bookshop, Micklegate.

King, of East Mount Road, York, has a history of theft and deception, but claims never to have stepped inside a court until she was 36.

Magistrates this week sentenced her to a one-year penalty that focuses on debt management after hearing that she had financial troubles.

Wendy Hardy, 24, of the Peasholme Centre, York, was banned from stores after admitting that she stole deodorant from Boots in York on January 11.

Police believe she has now stopped stealing.

Former drug user Tara Bowley, 28, who has served several short jail sentences for at least 12 theft and deception offences since 2000, was banned from stores after she stole children's denim clothes from Gap in Davygate, York.

Bowley, who has lived at a string of addresses in the west side of York and most recently gave her address as Walmgate, admitted stealing goods worth £50 on January 12.

Homeless Scott Anderson Wilson, 33, was banned from RACY stores after he admitted stealing four bottles of wine and a can of lager worth £31 from Jacksons, Fulford Road, in January.

Wilson, who gives his address as the Peasholme Centre, York, is originally from Aberdeen and has been punished for heroin possession twice.

Former drug user Stephen Jamie Ferguson, 26, of Boothwood Road, Clifton, can no longer visit RACY stores after he admitting stealing a bottle of whisky worth £25 from Sainsbury's, Foss Bank, on January 5.

Last year the former Nestle worker, who has a history of dishonesty, was convicted of three other thefts and made the subject of a drug treatment and testing order.

Updated: 10:29 Thursday, February 19, 2004