A SERIAL shoplifter and drug addict who deliberately targeted Co-op stores across Bradford to steal alcohol, meat, chocolate, laundry products, and air freshener despite being banned from all such stores in the district has been jailed for 17 months.
Michael Wray was said to have “an appalling record” having racked up 111 convictions for 301 offences over the last 30 years.
The vast majority were for thefts from shops, which numbered 199 separate offences.
What did he steal?
Bradford Crown Court heard how Wray, 45, visited seven Co-op stores between April 13 and May 7 this year.
On April 13 at Wyke Old Lane, he stole bottles of spirits valued at £60.
On April 27 at Halifax Road in Cullingworth, he took meat worth £60.65.
On April 28 at Denholme Gate Road in Brighouse, he stole four packets of bacon, four lamb steaks, and four packets of cheese valued at £52.75.
On May 1 at Broomhill Avenue in Keighley, he was seen concealing chocolate, a bottle of beer, and medicine worth £25.
On May 5 on Thornton Road in Bradford, he hid different varieties of steak, worth £45, on his person.
Also on May 5 in Denholme, he took laundry products.
On May 7 in Baildon, he stole meat products and Lenor air freshener.
Man was banned from Co-op stores
The shoplifting spree put him in breach of a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), imposed in December 2024, which banned him from entering any Co-op stores in the Bradford area.
Wray pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft, and seven breaches of the CBO.
The court heard that Wray, of no fixed abode, and who appeared via video link from HMP Leeds, was jailed for 18 months last summer after embarking on a shoplifting spree in Wilsden, Denholme, and Clayton.
Addicted to drugs for 30 years
Mitigating, Gabrielle Coates said Wray’s shoplifting was “spontaneous” with very little planning and that he had been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for about 30 years.
He had become clean of drugs whilst in custody but had spiralled back into buying drugs after being released as he moved in with another drug user and felt he had no choice but to buy drugs for them to keep on living there.
He then fell back into using drugs himself.
Miss Coates said Wray felt he had “let himself down” and was “extremely remorseful”.
'Appalling record of criminality'
Sentencing Wray to 16 months for breaching the CBO and a further month for each of the thefts, concurrent with each other but to be served consecutively to the 16-month sentence, His Honour Judge Tahir Khan KC told him: “You have an appalling record of criminality involving this type of behaviour.
“An immediate sentence of custody is inevitable.
“You knew what you were doing when you went into those shops and stole items of property belonging to the shops.”
