A COLCHESTER MAN has been charged with 18 shop thefts and five breaches of a criminal behaviour order over the course of 29 days.

Scott Butcher, 37, of Devon Road, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last Friday in connection to 18 counts of theft from four East of England Co-op stores across Colchester, between March 27 and April 25.

Essex Police said the total value of alcohol, meat, fish, cheese, chocolate, cakes, energy drinks and laundry detergent that was alleged to have been stolen is £1,566.

Butcher is also charged with five breaches of a three-year criminal behaviour order imposed by Colchester Magistrates’ Court on September 9, 2023, which banned him from entering any Co-op store in Essex.

Butcher is now due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court during the week beginning May 27, 2024.