BRIDGEND: Prolific shoplifter jailed for ten months — and banned from every store she targeted

A Bridgend woman who spent eight months repeatedly stealing from shops across the town has been jailed – and banned from ever entering the stores she targeted again.

It is not the first time Emma Faulkner has faced the courts for shoplifting. She was jailed for four weeks in December after stealing £927 worth of beauty products from The Cosmetic Company at McArthurGlen – the very same store she would go on to target again for £1,500 just months later.

Faulkner, 48, was sentenced to ten months in prison after appearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

She was convicted of multiple shoplifting offences after targeting businesses across Bridgend over the past eight months.

Among her offences was the theft of £1,500 worth of items from The Cosmetic Store at McArthurGlen Bridgend – one of the town’s busiest retail destinations.

She also stole £40 worth of goods from Poundland on Adare Street and £30 worth of candles from the Yankee Candle shop, alongside numerous other shoplifting incidents.

Faulkner was also sentenced for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

As well as the prison sentence, officers applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order lasting two years – prohibiting Faulkner from entering the stores she repeatedly targeted.

In a further penalty, her dog has been taken away from her and she has been banned from keeping animals for five years.

The case was investigated by the Bridgend Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Sergeant Daniel Parry said persistent retail crime had a direct impact on communities and local businesses. “We want to be clear – those who choose to repeatedly offend will be identified, targeted, and dealt with robustly,” he said.

Parry said officers would continue to pursue repeat offenders. “Our officers will relentlessly pursue those responsible and use all available powers to bring them to justice,” he added.

The sentence follows a wider effort by South Wales Police to tackle retail crime across the Bridgend area, with neighbourhood policing teams increasingly using Criminal Behaviour Orders as a tool to protect businesses from prolific offenders.

Retailers suffering from shoplifting are encouraged to report every incident to South Wales Police on 101 to help build the intelligence picture needed to pursue repeat offenders through the courts.

Anyone with information about shoplifting or retail crime can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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SWANSEA: Meats, milkshakes, sunglasses and cheese — the one-man crime wave that hit 13 city centre shops in a month

A prolific shoplifter who visited the same Co-op nine times in a single month — and hit 13 Swansea city centre shops in four weeks — has been jailed and banned from every Co-op branch in the city.

James Brittain, 46, now of Alexandra Road, Swansea, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft from a shop at Swansea Magistrates Court, stealing goods worth almost £700 during a spree in March and April this year.

Brittain targeted Co-op branches on Bryn Road and Walter Road nine times, taking items including meats, ready meals, bottles of alcohol, chocolate and milkshakes. He also stole alcohol and cheese from Tesco on two occasions, bread from a Greggs bakery, and pairs of sunglasses from Vision Express.

The court heard that his long-term drug use had taken a significant toll on his physical and mental health. His advocate described him as someone who had become “institutionalised” to life in prison and who struggles when in the community.

Brittain was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison and will serve 40 per cent of that time in custody before being released on licence. He was also made subject to a criminal behaviour order prohibiting him from entering any Co-op branch in Swansea for the next three years.

South Wales Police say that the order is the sixth secured by its Neighbourhood Policing Team in Swansea for retail crime in the past two years. The application was supported by evidence compiled through close partnership working with local retailers and local authority CCTV.

Officers added that the broader enforcement effort has contributed to a 14% fall in shop thefts in Swansea city centre.

City Neighbourhood Inspector Andrew Hedley said tackling prolific offenders remained a priority. “Securing this sixth Criminal Behaviour Order in two years for retail crime reflects the proactive and evidence-led work of officers who are focused on those causing the greatest harm through repeat offending,” he said.

“Alongside targeted enforcement and highly visible policing, this work has contributed to a 14% reduction in shop thefts in the city centre. We will continue to focus our efforts and maintain our determination to protect local businesses and disrupt persistent retail crime.”

Swansea Business Crime Reduction Manager Steve Gallagher said the order sent a clear message to repeat offenders. “Persistent retail crime has a significant impact on retailers, their staff, and the overall confidence of the city centre, and this action shows that repeat offending is being tackled effectively,” he said.

“Through strong partnership working with South Wales Police, we are seeing meaningful enforcement that helps deter further offences, reduce financial losses, and improve the day-to-day safety of those working and trading in the city.”

Brittain has 30 previous convictions for 114 offences, including nine house burglaries, 22 non-dwelling burglaries, aggravated vehicle taking, and going equipped for burglary. In December 2020 he was sentenced to 32 months in prison for two attempted burglaries in the Sketty area of Swansea.

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#BusinessCrimeReduction #CoOp #CriminalBehaviourOrder #NeighbourhoodPolicingTeam #shoplifting #Sketty #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt #VisionExpress #WalterRoad

Trevine woman loses dogs after neighbours’ barking nightmare

Julia Goodgame, of Bryn Y Derwydd, was fined £1,000 and slapped with a Criminal Behaviour Order after admitting she breached a Community Protection Notice. The court also imposed a Forfeit and Seizure Order, allowing officers to remove her dogs and place them in an animal welfare centre.

Protest over barking chaos

The row has rumbled on for more than a year in the small coastal village of Trevine. In August, frustrated neighbours staged a protest outside Goodgame’s home, claiming up to ten dogs were being kept at the property and describing the noise as “constant” and “intolerable.”

One pensioner told reporters they had been “kept awake for months,” while others complained of dogs roaming freely and fouling gardens.

Local councillor Neil Prior, who represents Llanrhian, said at the time the situation had been “slow and frustrating” for all involved, with council officers, housing staff and police in talks for over a year about enforcement.

Court battle

Goodgame was issued with a Community Protection Notice in June, ordering her to keep her dogs under control, prevent excessive barking, and clear mess properly. She was later accused of breaching the notice on nine occasions between June and July.

At a November hearing she admitted one count, relating to June 20, while eight other charges were dropped after the council offered no evidence. But magistrates warned further restrictions could follow.

On Thursday 11 December, the court imposed tougher measures — a Criminal Behaviour Order and the seizure of her dogs. Any breach of the CBO could see her back before magistrates facing jail.

Council hits out

Councillor Jacob Williams, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said the case showed coordinated action between public protection, housing services and police.

“Residents of the area have had to endure long periods of inconvenience and distress as a result of the situation, which hopefully will now be resolved.”

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#animalWelfare #barkingDogs #CriminalBehaviourOrder #Dogs #noise #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCouncil #PembrokeshireCountyCouncil #Trevine