A serial shoplifter has been banned from more than 40 shops and all Co-ops in Kent.

Nrender Biriah, 47, stole stole £44 of laundry tablets from a supermarket in Dartford shopping centre on August 14 and was arrested four days later.

Between February 2020 and August 2023, Biriah, of no fixed address, repeatedly stole from businesses in Gravesend.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 18, where he pleaded guilty to the Dartford shoplifting offence.

But due to the profilic nature of his offending, police applied for him to be barred from 43 stores in Gravesend as well as every Co-op in the county.

The application for the criminal behaviour order by Kent Police’s Strategic Prevention Command was heard and approved by magistrates on September 14 when Biriah was also sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment.

Under the terms of the order, Biriah must not attend any of the 43 stores that belong to the Gravesham Safe and Free Environment – a business crime reduction partnership between businesses, Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Police - for the next two years.

He is prohibited from entering any Co-op stores in the county without express permission.

Investigating officer, PC Tony Quilter, said: “Biriah is a prolific offender who, despite numerous interventions from us, has shown no willingness to cease his offending.

“The successful implementation of the order is testimony to the hard work of our officers, who have worked tirelessly to see Biriah face consequences for his actions.

“If anyone witnesses Biriah in breach of the order, I encourage them to report it to Kent Police.”