A 28-year-old woman has today been sentenced to more than four months in prison for stealing items worth hundreds of pounds from shops across Havant and Hedge End

Kaya Evans, of no fixed abode, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court earlier today (Thursday 14 April), charged with 9 counts of theft from a shop and one count of criminal damage.

Eight of the charges relate to incidents at the One Stop on Middle Park Way in Havant ranging from January 8 2022 to January 26 2022.

The remaining charges are in connection with an incident at the Next store at the Hedge End Retail Park on November 7 2021 and a shoplifting at the One Stop on Botley Drive in Havant on January 22 2022.

Evans stole approximately £288 worth of household goods, meat and alcohol from the One Stop on Middle Park Way, £90 worth of clothing from the Next store in Hedge End and £84 worth of meat and alcohol from the One Stop on Botley Drive.

The criminal damage charge relates to an incident at the One Stop on Middle Park Way in which a door was damaged when Evans tried to gain entry to the store.

Evans pleaded guilty to all charges and was today sentenced to 18 weeks in prison.

PC Emma Warner from the Havant Neighbourhoods Policing Team said: “Evans has been causing misery to local businesses and the local community for some time now and we hope that this sentence demonstrates that we will take shoplifting seriously.

“I also hope that this result today sends a clear message to any shoplifters out there: continue to steal and you will also end up in court.

“We will continue to work hard to make Havant a safe place for residents and ask that the public continue to report instances of shoplifting, as well as other crimes such as anti-social behaviour, as all reports help us build a stronger case.”