A prolific thief with a long criminal history has been jailed for one year after ransacking a Co-op store in Bexley, just two days after being spared jail by a court.

Daniel Wodley, 37, appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Monday (March 17), where magistrates handed him a 12-month prison sentence after he stole £790 worth of tobacco from the Co-op on Steynton Avenue, near Albany Park station.

Wodley had previously appeared in court on Thursday, March 13, where he was given a community order after admitting to stealing £283 worth of cash and alcohol from another Co-op branch in Anerley. As part of his sentence, he was banned from the Anerley store and ordered to engage in drug rehabilitation treatment.

Court’s Leniency Met with Repeat Offending

However, Wodley wasted no time in breaching the spirit of the court’s leniency. Just two days later, he committed another brazen theft, returning to his criminal behaviour by targeting another Co-op store.

Magistrates, clearly unimpressed, described Wodley as a “persistent, wilful and deliberate offender” with an “appalling criminal record.” They noted that he had been given an opportunity to address his drug problem but had “failed within 48 hours.”

Repeat Offender at the Same Store

The court also heard that Wodley had previously targeted the same Steynton Avenue Co-op twice in January, stealing tobacco on both occasions. Monday’s offence marked his third theft from the store in recent months.

A spokesperson for the court said:

“Mr Wodley’s repeated offending shows a clear disregard for the law and for the opportunities given to him to reform. A custodial sentence was necessary to protect businesses and the public.”

Retail Crime on the Rise

The case highlights the ongoing challenges facing retailers, particularly local convenience stores, which have seen a sharp rise in thefts and antisocial behaviour in recent years. Police and shopkeepers across Bexley and southeast London have called for tougher measures to deter repeat offenders.