Britain's worst shoplifters walking free as jail sentences hit record low

It is the highest amount since the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) established records more than a decade ago, The Telegraph revealed.

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Only 41.3 per cent received a custodial sentence. That is down from 46.4 per cent the year prior.

Of those that were spared jail, one offender had 315 previous convictions and had been caught stealing a £495 designer handbag from Fenwick in Newcastle.

It also included a woman who helped take £145,000 worth of goods in shopping trolleys from Tesco.

Retailers have estimated up to 70 per cent of the thefts from their respective stores are carried out by just 10 per cent of offenders.

It is estimated that shoplifting cost retailers £2billion last year, adding about £133 to every household's shopping bill.

It comes days after Police Chief, Katy Bourne, warned that there was no point arresting shoplifters if the courts continued to set them free and without preventing offenders from committing further crimes.

Ms Bourne added that it was "madness" how many times it took for thieves to be arrested before being sent to jail.

The Prime Minister has said shoplifting was a priority for his Government.

Keir Starmer pledged to introduce laws, requiring police to investigate even if the goods stolen were worth under £200.

However, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has considered recommendations backing the greater use of community punishments rather than jail for less serious offences.

That would include theft and shoplifting.

Former police officers and crime experts have highlighted overcrowded prisons and court delays for the decline in custodial sentences for repeat offenders.

Former Scotland Yard Detective, David McKelvey, whose security firm protects West End retailers from shoplifters, told The Telegraph, "Since the Government's early release scheme we have seen an increase in the prolific offenders returning to commit crime".

He said the "message" currently being sent by the criminal justice system was that "the risks of going to prison are negligible and so the regulars are having a field day".

Former No 10 adviser, Rory Geoghegan founded the Public Safety Foundation.

He said the figures revealed the "more lenient approaches being taken by courts in response to the repeated failure to expand prison capacity".

"Prolific thieves rarely stop offending unless incapacitated and the best incapacitant we have currently is jail," Mr Geoghegan said.

“Shopkeepers and retail workers across the country will be depressed to see more prolific thieves avoiding prison – at a time when their stores are being hit by surging thefts and emboldened criminals."

Customer thefts reported by UK retailers in the 12 months to September last year rose by 3.7million to 20.4million.

An MoJ spokesman said "The Government is delivering the largest expansion of prison places since the Victorian era - with 2,500 new spaces already delivered and 14,000 on track for delivery by 2031".

“Independent judges decide sentences and they can impose a range of tough requirements including curfews, tags and exclusion zones," the spokesman added.

"Offenders who break these requirements can be sent to prison.”