Thief Banned from Hotel Chocolat Store
Nottinghamshire Police have imposed a ban on Charlotte Jones, a 35-year-old woman from Cheltenham Street in Old Basford, Nottingham, preventing her from entering the Hotel Chocolat store on Albert Street. Jones was identified as a "prolific" sweet-toothed thief who targeted the store multiple times.
Jones committed thefts at the Nottingham city centre store twice in the lead-up to Christmas 2025 and once more on 2 January. Following her guilty plea for these offences, the police secured a criminal behaviour order that prohibits her from entering the shop for a period of two years.
Sgt Dan Butler said: "As long as prolific shoplifters keep committing offences, we will continue to put them before the courts."
Details of Thefts and Sentencing
Jones admitted to stealing chocolates valued at £90 on 8 December, £62 worth of products on 23 December, and £60 worth of chocolate on 2 January. In total, she had stolen chocolates worth £851 across seven separate thefts from the same store since December 2024.
On 3 January, Nottingham Magistrates' Court sentenced Jones to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, she was ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and to pay £152 in compensation. The criminal behaviour order banning her from the store was granted on 17 January.
Police emphasized that any breach of this order constitutes a criminal offence and could lead to Jones being returned to prison.
Hotel Chocolat Statement and Contact Information
A spokesperson for Hotel Chocolat commented on the situation:
"We are aware of incidents at our Albert Street store, which have been addressed by Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
We are fully supporting Nottinghamshire Police and will continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff."
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