Britain’s most prolific thief who lipsynced to ‘Smooth Criminal’ jailed again

Britain’s ‘most prolific’ shoplifter is back behind bars just weeks after she was banned from all stores in her area.

Tayna Liddle, 43, who often wears big hats and sunglasses during thieving sprees, has racked up a staggering 172 convictions and more than 400 arrests.

She’s also allegedly posted ‘how to steal’ videos on TikTok, has plagued shops in the North East for decades.

The thief’s TikTok account features a number of videos showing her sporting different wigs and hats – at one point, she was seen lip syncing to Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’.

On September 12 she was issued with a civil injunction, meaning she’s banned from all stores apart from a pharmacy, a clothing retailer and a supermarket in the Northumbria Police area.

Less than a month later, on October 3, Liddle appeared at Newcastle Magistrates Court via video link from prison.

Liddle spoke to confirm her name and date of birth. She also admitted two counts of theft from a shop, which pre-date the banning injunction.

Ruth Forster, prosecuting, told the court that Liddle entered ASDA Fossway on August 13 and tried to take £72.50 worth of laundry items when she was stopped by a member of staff.

The police were not called on this occasion and all items were recovered -but she returned the next day, taking clothing and a handbag valued at £131.

Forster argued that Liddle showed ‘some element of planning’ due to the ‘prolific’ nature of her offending.

Jack Lovell, defending, argued this was incorrect as due to her ‘reputation’, she is immediately identified by staff when she enters a store.

He told the court that footage of her being detained by security shows Liddle being ‘dragged across the floor into the holding room’ and that she was ‘pushed’.

The behaviour was described as ‘less than appropriate and less than professional’.

He said: ‘Miss Liddle has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity. Because of Miss Liddle’s record it aggravates it quite significantly.’

Liddle, of Twelfth Avenue, Blyth, Northumberland, was handed a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months.

She must also pay £40 partial prosecution costs and a £26 surcharge.

Chair of the Bench Mr Peter Trevichick said: ‘You appear before the courts today and you have pleaded guilty to two matters of theft from a shop. You have 171 convictions and 497 offences, which 368 of those are theft related.

‘We are going to deal with these matters today by means of a conditional discharge.’

The bench was told Liddle was in prison after being jailed for three months for contempt of court. No further information about this offence was given during the hearing.

One local store manager claimed she used her social media account, which has 1400 followers, to teach people ‘how to get away with stealing’.

One of Liddle’s most recent crimes saw her steal £1,500 worth of bags from TK Maxx in Cramlington.

Tommy Moir, 27, the manager of Card factory in Gosforth Shopping Centre, which Liddle was banned from in 2013, said: ‘She wears different wigs so people don’t recognise her when she comes in.

‘We point her out to new staff members when she comes in. She has a TikTok account where she showed people how to get away with stealing, but the video was soon taken down.

‘I don’t know how the ban is going to work or how it will be reinforced. She will still try to come into different stores. I don’t think there’s much else anyone can do. If she was sent to prison, she would only go away for a few months and come back out to do the same thing.’

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