Notorious thief banged up over four-day crime spree

North Yorks Police

LIGHTFINGERED LEE: Lee John McDonald

A notorious local shop thief has been jailed (again) for a total of 25 weeks following a four-day crime spree.

Serial shoplifter, Lee McDonald, 43, found himself in the back of a cop car when he was lifted at Three Lakes Retail Park on Monday, 27 July. He was subsequently charged in connection with a string of thefts and attempted thefts across the area.

McDonald was hauled before York Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 28 July, where he pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from a shop. He was sentenced to a total of 25 weeks’ imprisonment and ordered to pay £239.

The offences included:

• 24 July - McDonald was challenged by staff at M&S after being seen placing a qualtity of alcohol into his bag.

• 25 July - Returned to M&S where he successfully nicked meat products.

• 26 July - Entered B&M and stole washing pods, making a clean get-away without making any attempt to pay.

• 26 July - Stole goods from Home Bargains in Selby.

• 26 July and 27 July: Lifted a quantity of stock from Aldi over two separate visits.

During sentencing, the court heard that the offences were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified. The court noted that McDonald committed the offences while subject to a suspended sentence and that he had demonstrated a “flagrant disregard for people and their property”.