Serial Wiltshire thief Elliot Pennells given suspended sentence

Elliot Pennells, of Alabare Place, stole more than £1.1k worth of goods during an unchecked crime spree which lasted from April 3, 2023, until January 6, 2024.

The 19-year-old was brought before Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 2, charged with 10 theft offences, threatening a police officer and breaching a community order.

Due to the seriousness of his offending, Pennells was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Pennells trespassed in Esso Service Station, Tidworth, and stole £476.60 worth of vapes and cigarettes between August 7 and October 5.

Elliot Pennells stole from Esso in Tidworth. (Image: Google Maps)

Before this, Pennells stole two hoodies to the value of £209.98 from Sports Direct in Salisbury on April 3.

He then burgled Tesco Supermarket in Tidworth on July 5 where he stole alcohol worth £40. On September 22 Pennells stole items to the value of £27 from the same shop.

The next day he stole a £60 Tesco uniform fleece from Salisbury's Tesco.

Almost a month later, on October 21, Pennells threatened PC Tom Webster in Bulford and stole items to the value of £25 from Sainsbury's in the Maltings.

For these offences, Pennells was sentenced to a six-month community order on December 11.

This required him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, comply with alcohol treatment, do 20 days of rehabilitation activity days and commit no further offences.

But he didn't comply with the order and failed to attend probation appointments on February 22, March 14 and April 4.

Pennells also continued to steal and was caught bagging a £17.99 bottle of gin in Lidl, Tidworth, on January 6.

In addition to the 12-week suspended prison sentence, Pennells was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation activity and undergo six months of alcohol treatment.

Pennells must also pay £17.99 compensation to Lidl for the bottle of gin.