Wellington man targeted shops for chocolate and toothbrushes

A man described by magistrates as a professional criminal has been given a suspended sentence after a series of thefts from shops in Wellington and central Telford.

Thomas Price, of Saville Close, appeared before Telford Magistrates’ Court on 26 January to face six charges of theft from a shop.

The court heard that Price, 36, carried out the spree between early November and December 2025, repeatedly targeting the B&M stores in the town and a local supermarket.

The offences began on 7 November when he stole 12 boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, valued at £126, from the Tesco on Haygate Road.

Later that month, Price moved his attention to the B&M branches, taking a Tower air fryer from the Grange Central store and electric toothbrushes worth £100 from the Wellington branch.

Price returned to the Wellington B&M on 28 November to steal three more Oral B electric toothbrushes.

His activity continued into December, where he was caught stealing hair straighteners and washing powder on the morning of 9 December, before returning to the same shop 15 minutes later to take a further eight hair styling products.

Magistrates noted that Price had a history of similar convictions and had offended while on licence, stating that his actions showed he was operating as a professional criminal.

Price was handed a total custodial sentence of 13 weeks, suspended for 12 months, after the bench heard that his offending was triggered by drug and alcohol misuse.

The court decided to suspend the sentence to allow Price to engage with community-based rehabilitation, which they felt would be hindered by immediate imprisonment.

Price must now complete a nine-month non-residential drug rehabilitation programme and attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £525 in compensation to the affected stores.