POLICE have issued a wanted appeal for prolific Cirencester shoplifter John Lee Goscombe.

The 42-year-old is wanted on recall to prison after breaching his licence conditions, following his release from jail.

Goscombe was given the first Criminal Behaviour Order in the county in December 2014, banning him from entering shops in Cirencester for two years.

He was barred from entering retail premises within a 3km radius of Cirencester town centre, following his conviction for five offences of shoplifting in the town, for which he received a five-month prison sentence.

Goscombe, who at the time lived in Bowly Road in Cirencester, received the order on December 4, 2015, at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.

Speaking at the time, Sergeant Andy Wood, of Cotswolds Local Policing Area, said: “This individual has refused to engage with probation or integrated offender management, where a number of agencies come together to tackle the harm particular offenders can cause to their communities.

“We decided to apply for a CRASBO to see if this would have the desired effect, but on the day we were going to make the application, the law changed, with Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) replacing CRASBOs.

“We originally asked for a ban from every single retail premises, but legal argument at court allowed him to enter some premises, for example, restaurants, and a pharmacy. 

“Had we been more rigid we might not have got this order at all.
“This order provides police with another valuable tool in our efforts to drive down offending in our communities in a flexible and imaginative way,” he added.

If you have seen Goscombe or know of his whereabouts, police are warning people not approach him but call 101 and ask for Cotswolds Police Station.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.