A notorious shoplifter has been barred from all Tescos in his local town following a series of thefts and violent attacks. Freddie Farnie attacked a shop employee and emergency service workers during his solo crime spree. The 31-year-old stole food and other items from Tesco son London Road and Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, as well as other stores in the town between August 30, 2024, and February 12, 2025. During this time, he also committed a theft in Faversham, assaulted a shop worker, attacked four emergency workers, and caused three instances of criminal damage at Tonbridge police station.
Farnie, of no fixed address, was apprehended and charged with multiple offences. He admitted guilt at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 4, and received an 18-month community order and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation for nine months, compensate his victims, and pay £85 in court costs.
Due to Farnie’s criminal behaviour, officers applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at the time of his sentencing. The order was granted, prohibiting him from entering any Tesco and a local shop on Silverdale Road, Tunbridge Wells.
Furthermore, he is forbidden from consuming alcohol or carrying an open bottle or can containing alcohol in public, except at licensed premises. If he violates these conditions, he could face a fine and potential imprisonment.
Police Constable Julie Edwards remarked: “Farnie is a prolific shoplifter who regularly comes to our attention and is arrested. He can also become violent and his actions have caused considerable distress to shop workers.”
She further warned: “Farnie is now subject to the conditions of a strict court order and we will be quick to attend any incidents where he is reported to have breached the restrictions. Should this happen, he is likely to find himself back before the magistrates to answer for his behaviour.”
It comes after Tesco has increased some of its store’s security measures following a recent spate of shoplifting. Tesco confirmed the rollout of a new secure cabinet for spirits and sparkling wines in select large stores, in a bid to curb shoplifting. The supermarket detailed that the locked doors of the cabinet will open after a customer presses a button.
Last year, Tesco’s CEO Ken Murphy spoke out about the retailer’s investment of tens of millions into crime prevention measures, yet he cautioned that these efforts were still falling short.
These measures include providing staff with body-worn cameras, installing protective screens and implementing door entry systems at store entrances.
Shoplifting offences in England and Wales have soared to record levels, with a 23% increase to over 490,000 incidents between September 2023 and September 2024, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
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