Britain’s most prolific shoplifter was sent back to jail and barred from Bolton’s high street today – after clocking up a staggering 521 offences.
As Harry Hankinson, 65, was led away a judge claimed he had ‘never experienced in all his life sitting at the bar and bench’ a defendant who had kept ‘coming back for more’.
Hankinson had begun his life of stealing in 1970 after claiming a bump on the head changed his personality and made him addicted to theft.
During 44 years of offending he preyed on numerous high street shops – even taking his unsuspecting wife on a shoplifting expedition during a sightseeing coach trip.
He had received a variety of disposals and court orders but ignored them all. Psychiatric tests deny his claims he is a ‘kleptomaniac’.
In the latest spree Hankinson, from Halliwell in Bolton, attempted to steal designer goods including a £1,900 watch, plus a handbag and purses worth £570 from luxury department store Selfridges.
He was given bail but the following day he went shoplifting at a House of Fraser store.
The thefts mean he now has a total of 235 convictions for 521 offences, 432 of them for theft. At Bolton Crown Court Hankinson was jailed for 16 months and given an ASBO banning him from Bolton town centre.
If caught in any retail outlet outside Bolton he must leave if asked to do so. The order will run for two years after his release. He must also pay a £120 victim surcharge.
After being told of Hankinson’s catalogue of convictions Judge Peter Davies said: ”He is an indiscriminate thief and he shouldn’t be let near the shops.
”It has affected the community of traders and everybody agrees he shouldn’t go around thieving. He is a risk to retailers – I have never seen anything like it.
”This is a truly exceptional case, he has had every spindle opportunity not to commit these offences. Now he is stealing high value items.”
He told Hankinson: “It’s theft, it’s dishonesty and you are indiscriminate, targeting retail premises whether well known, international stores or ordinary traders.
”Some of the victims of your thefts are institutions that can cover the loss but that doesn’t take away the fact that you are a pest, you keep coming back for more.
“”Everything that has been done for you has failed, you keep coming back for more. I think there is no other way of protecting these traders,
“One look at your antecedents means that it is totally hopeless. You say this is impulsive that you can’t help yourself.
”You must go to custody and you have to stay in custody for a long time. This is exceptional. This is your occupation, you target shops, a watch for £1,900, purses, they are high value items.
“I take into account your guilty pleas but I also take into account there is no psychiatric diagnosis that diminishes your responsibility.”
The court heard Halliwell blamed his crimes on an accident in 1970 when he fell backwards out an open window during a family function.
His stealing made him a familiar figure with store detectives and police officers and every retailer in Bolton town centre.
Whenever he was spotted in shopping areas his whereabouts were continually monitored by CCTV cameras and he was caught stealing virtually every time.
In 1996 his offending became so prolific his long suffering wife Linda, then 46, spoke out to condemn an 18 week stretch he received for stealing cigarettes, spirits and groceries.
She said: ”He should have got at least 18 months. The only way he will stop is by being in prison. If he’s in there long enough he might stop and think and get some proper help while he’s locked up.
”When he’s out after short stretches it’s just too easy for him to go and do it again. I can’t tell you much about him because I don’t really know him, he’s been in and out of Strangeways so much. The person who’s suffering out of all this is me.”
But although she vowed to stand by her man, in 2008 Mrs Hankinson was unwittingly caught up in another thieving expedition when she and her husband went to Ripon, North Yorks, for a day out by a coach – to celebrate his release from another prison stretch.
Today, the court heard how on February 18 this year, Hankinson stole meat from Sainsbury’s worth £110.
On February 19 he stole alcohol from Aldi worth £91, on February 27 stole clothes to the value of £172.96 from Marks and Spencer and the following day went into Selfridges in Manchester where he stole a watch worth £1,900.
He also stole a handbag and two purses from the store totalling £570.
He pleaded guilty to all the offences as well as admitting stealing alcohol from Tesco worth £389 on March 5 this year.
He was consequently arrested and hauled before the courts the following day only to be bailed and let out to go on to steal £335 worth of perfume from House of Fraser in Manchester the following day.
Prosecuting Mr David Toal said that upon the thefts he had been detained by staff and items had been seized and recovered.
He said: “In summary on the front page alone of his antecedent record there are offences involving theft and dishonesty between 1995 and 2014, they are almost exclusively for shop lifting.”
In mitigation defence counsel Mr Bob Elias said his client had suggested that he be made subject of a day time curfew between the hours of 9pm and 6pm during shop opening times.
He added that Hankinson had been a voluntary in patient, but had not been diagnosed to have the condition of kleptomania.
Mr Elias added: “He seemed to think that would stop him going to shops. He has a compulsion, he doesn’t drink alcohol.
”He tells me he has no reason to leave the house as food is brought to him. He returned to Selfridges – it suggests a compulsion in the theft not the profit.”
Image courtesy of Morning Calm, with thanks.
