The arrests were made in Nottingham on Tuesday 4 July 10 March after two women were stopped in a vehicle by officers from the city centre Reacher team.

Amanda Cunningham, 44, of Stansfield Street, Lenton, and Gemma Beeby, 39, of Comet Drive, Eastwood were each charged on Sunday 12 March with 18 counts of shoplifting.

The charges were brought following an investigation into reports of high-value shoplifting in Tesco stores in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire between 15 April 2023 and 3 July 2023.

The charges mostly relate to the theft of large amounts of alcohol, with clothing, meat products and washing products also stolen.

The total value of the thefts is estimated to be approximately £15,000.

Cunningham has also been charged with two counts of common assault after staff were reportedly threatened on two of the alleged incidents.

Cunningham and Beeby appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 6 July where they were remanded in custody.

The case will next be heard at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday 3 August.

Sergeant Lou Ellis, of the Nottingham city centre Reacher team, said: “We know the costly impact shoplifting can have on our local communities and businesses.

“I would like to reassure our local retailers that we will continue to proactively target those who commit offences of this nature. Victims of abuse, threats and violence carry those experiences with them for life and shoplifters reacting in this way is neither normal nor in any way acceptable.

“We will continue to offer our support to local businesses to protect them from shop theft and assault, working together to prevent and drive down this kind of criminality.”