Prolific shoplifter jailed for £31,000 theft spree across counties

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 18:02 · Archive

A man who stole over £31,000 worth of goods from shops across Sussex and eleven other counties has been jailed for three years and four months.

Brendan Brain, 39, of Oracle Drive in Waterlooville, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after stealing more than £31,000 worth of goods from shops across multiple counties. His offences, carried out between September 2023 and July 2025, spanned Sussex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Avon & Somerset, Suffolk, Wiltshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Dorset, Devon and Swansea.

Brain targeted luxury personal care items, accessories and technology products. His thefts included designer fragrances, Dyson Airwraps, electric toothbrushes, Jo Malone candles, designer sunglasses and Nintendo Switch consoles. In one incident in Sussex alone, he stole goods valued at more than £3,500.

He was arrested on 5 June 2025 in connection with offences in Sussex, Devon and Swansea, and was charged the following day with ten counts of theft from a shop, two counts of attempted theft, and two counts of burglary. Sussex Police worked with the Boots Crime Intelligence Team and other forces to link him to additional offences across the country. He pleaded guilty to 37 offences in total across court hearings held in multiple locations.

Brain was handed a six-year Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering any Boots, Currys, John Lewis or Tesco stores in England and Wales.

How it is being reported

• Prolific shoplifter and burglar who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods from shops across Sussex and beyond jailedA prolific shoplifter who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods from shops across Sussex and beyound has been jailed.Chichester Observer · 13 Nov, 17:30
• Prolific shoplifter jailed and banned from stores after stealing £31,000 of goodsA prolific shoplifter has been jailed after stealing more than £31,000 worth of goods.The Argus · 13 Nov, 16:27

In this story: Brendan Brain · Sussex Police · Boots · Currys · John Lewis · Tesco · Sussex · Wales

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