Persistent Peterborough perfume thief jailed
It's after repeated offences at the same shop
Last updated 23rd Mar 2026
A woman has been jailed, after failing in a bid to complete a hat-trick of perfume thefts from the same shop.
Justine Lavell, 47, began by going to Frasers, in Queensgate, Peterborough, on 16 January.
She took a selection of fragrances from a display, before picking up some clothes, going to the changing rooms and then leaving the store, without paying. The stolen items were valued at £742.
The next day Lavell, of Chapel Street, Stanground, Peterborough, returned to the shop and repeated the tactic, to steal more perfume worth £612.
On 21 January she returned to the shop for a third time, but she was arrested after staff spotted her and called police.
On Thursday (19 March) at Cambridge Crown Court she was jailed for 31 weeks, having admitted two counts of theft from a shop.
PC Greta Antanaviciute said: “This was an audacious bid from Lavell, to repeatedly steal from the same shop, thinking that she would get away with it.
“I’m pleased staff spotted her on the third occasion and she was apprehended.
“We’re working with retailers in Queensgate and elsewhere in the city as we continue our efforts to combat theft from shops.”