Persistent Skegness thief behind bars for theft and CBO breaches

A persistent thief from Skegness is behind bars for multiple thefts and defying a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) issued on 9 January 2026. CBO breaches don’t go unchecked – our Neighbourhood teams work proactively to ensure offenders are held to account.

Billy Appleyard, 28, of Tennyson Green, Skegness has today (16 April) been sentenced to two years and four months in prison after appearing at Lincoln Crown Court for multiple shop thefts and CBO breaches which took place in February. The CBO prohibited him from entering any retail premises in Skegness with the exception of one specified store and a pharmacy.

The court heard how he had entered a total of 17 prohibited stores, leaving the premises with high value products such as meat, coffee, cleaning and washing products, making no attempt to pay for items totalling £1,400.

Skegness Neighbourhood Policing Team Community Beat Manager, PC Lucy Hawley, said: “Persistent shop theft has a very real impact on both our local retailers and the wider community. For shop staff, the constant worry and disruption caused by repeat offending takes an emotional toll, and for businesses already working hard to stay afloat, the financial losses can be significant.

“Our officers see that impact firsthand, which is why we take a firm and consistent approach along with our Response and local security colleagues to tackling offenders who repeatedly target our shops, avoid the support offered, and ignore Criminal Behaviour Orders put in place to stop their offending. We are committed to protecting our high streets and supporting those who live, work and visit here.

“We will continue to take every opportunity to intervene, disrupt offending, and bring those responsible before the courts. We won’t stop working to keep our community safe.”

Appleyard was handed the sentence of two years and four months’ imprisonment for the multiple breaches of the CBO, along with a concurrent custodial sentence for all other theft offences. A new CBO was imposed, to run for three years from today. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £228.

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