A prolific shop thief has been returned to prison after being detained outside a supermarket by a plain-clothed police officer.

Kelly Bailey, 38, was wanted for a string of shop thefts and for breaching her Criminal Behaviour Order when she was spotted entering Morrisons in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on Friday 3 July.

Bailey, who was banned by the order from entering Kirkby town centre, stole items from B&M, Morrisons, Boyes, Aldi and a pharmacy between 30 May and 1 July.

Sergeant George Twiddy, of the Kirkby neighbourhood policing team, said: "Within just 25 minutes of starting their shift, officers successfully located and arrested Bailey after monitoring her movements and identifying her likely whereabouts.

Kelly Bailey, of Pinewood Close, Kirkby, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was jailed for one year.

placeholder image — Kelly Bailey, of Pinewood Close, Kirkby, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was jailed for one year.

"Retail crime has a significant impact on local retailers and is therefore taken very seriously by the team, which is committed to supporting local businesses and holding offenders to account."

The day after her arrest, Bailey, of Pinewood Close, Kirkby, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was jailed for one year.