Man jailed for five months for shop theft in Liverpool City Centre

A man has been jailed for five months and issued a Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO) after stealing items from a store in Liverpool City Centre.

Officers from the Liverpool City Centre Neighbourhood team were called to a store in the City Centre following reports that a man had been stopped by security staff for trying to leave with items he had not paid for.

Officers arrived on scene and quickly arrested the man, now known to be Marcel Fagan, 39, of no fixed address. During a search, officers seized a Stanley knife blade from Fagan, which was modified so it could be used as a weapon. He was subsequently charged with theft and possession of an offensive weapon.

Fagan was sentenced to five months imprisonment at Sefton Magistrates Court on Tuesday 5 March. On his release, he will be subject to a Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO) for 18 months.

The court can make a SVRO when an adult (aged 18 or over) is convicted of an offence involving a bladed article or offensive weapon.

Liverpool City Centre Inspector Jack Woodward, the force lead for Business Crime said: “I hope this sentencing of Fagan sends a clear message to anyone who comes into Liverpool City Centre intent on shoplifting from local businesses. This will not be tolerated, and we will continue to bring offenders to justice and make our high streets and retail spaces safer for us all.

“Following Fagan’s custodial sentence, he will be the subject of an SVRO for 18 months. This new court order is allowing us to target those who unlawfully carry knives in Merseyside and prevent further violence in our communities.”

“The support of the community is vital in helping us pursue offenders and prevent crime, so we would ask the public to get in touch if they have any information.”

If you have any information on suspected theft, always call 999 if a crime is in progress. You can also pass information via our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org).