Punishments for shoplifting in Watford have ranged from conditional discharges all the way to prison so far in 2024.

The five people in this list have appeared in magistrates’ courts and been found guilty of taking items from businesses in the town.

See what was taken and what punishment was meted out in each case below:

Sean McDonagh – Sainsbury’s

Sean McDonagh, 34, was given a 12-month conditional discharge after admitting to stealing a bottle of vodka and three boxes of electric toothbrushes worth £203 from Sainsbury’s in the town on September 20 last year.

McDonagh, of St Albans Road, also appeared in Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court over failing to surrender to bail on time.

He admitted this during the appearance for both on January 23, but was not given a separate penalty for it.

Mirela Balteanu – Asda

Groceries stolen from Asda in Watford by Mirela Balteanu on May 7, 2023, totalled £451.66.

The 20-year-old, of Newcombe Park, Wembley, admitted the offence in Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on February 13 and was ordered to pay £141.

Janis Sostaks – Morrisons

Janis Sostaks, of no fixed abode, admitted stealing £250 in chocolate bars from Morrisons Daily in Cassiobury Drive on January 12 when he appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court a month later.

The 29-year-old was fined £100. He was also in court over vehicle interference.

James Young - Boots

On January 6, James Young, 43, of Charter Place, was given a four-week prison sentence suspended for 12-months for stealing cosmetics worth £509.70 from Boots on New Year’s Eve.

By February 23, he had committed a further offence, and the suspended offence was implemented that day by Hatfield Magistrates Court.

Mark Reynolds - Asda

Mark Reynolds, 32, of Hope Green, committed a further offence while on conditional discharge for three thefts from Asda Watford in 2022.

The 13 bottles of alcohol he had stolen on the three occasions were worth a total of £458.

He was given a 28-day prison sentence suspended for 12 months.