BANNED: Prolific shoplifter Mark Devaney has been banned from entering a number of shops in St Neots.

TWO shoplifters have been banned from going into any of the main shops in St Neots.

BANNED: Prolific shoplifter Marcus Barwell has been banned from entering a number of shops in St Neots.

Mark Devaney and Marcus Barwell will not be able to enter High Street shops Marks and Spencer, Barretts and Beales, Waitrose in Priory Lane, McColl’s in Bishops Road, Eynesbury, Tesco in Barford Road, Iceland in Market Square and the Co-operative store in Tebbutts Road.

The pair are also banned from One Stop in Berkley Street, Eynesbury, and Tates Spar in Cambridge Road.

Devaney, 34, is also prohibited from entering Bon Marche, High Street.

Huntingdon magistrates granted the anti-social behaviour orders on the pair on Thursday (September 6) in their absence. Both are currently serving jail terms for shoplifting in the town.

Devaney, of Hall Road, Eynesbury, has 45 previous convictions for theft and related offences, and Barwell, of Park Crescent, Little Paxton, has 60 convictions.

Pc Aaron Murphy said: “Shoplifting has a huge effect on the business community and ultimately impacts on other shoppers.

“These orders will allow us to deal with these offenders at an early stage and take positive action preventing them from committing further offences.

“This type of criminality will not be tolerated and we are committed to making St Neots a better place to live, work and visit.”

Posters of the pair will be put up in the stores and will be arrested if they enter any of the named stores.