Prolific disguise-wearing Newcastle shoplifter caught leaving TK Maxx laden with £1,500 of bags

A prolific Newcastle shoplifter with more than 150 convictions has been handed the "strictest" shop ban ever handed out by Northumbria Police.

Pictures shared by the force show Tanya Liddle wearing big hats and different clothes in an apparent attempt to go unnoticed.

Officers said she has "plagued" the Northumbria Police area for decades and been arrested almost 400 times.

Liddle, 43, has now totted up 171 convictions on her record, the vast majority of which are for shoplifting.

One of her latest offences was carried out on 24 April, when she went into TK Maxx on Westmorland Retail Park in Cramlington and helped herself to £1,500-worth of bags before leaving with out paying or speaking to staff.

Footage issued by Northumbria Police shows Liddle leaving TK Maxx laden with bags worth £1,500

Due to her prolific offending, officers with Newcastle North West Neighbourhood Policing Team, based at Westgate Road, applied for a civil injunction against Liddle, which was granted on Thursday (12 September) in a hearing at Newcastle Civil Court.

The order is the strictest of its kind ever issued in the force area.

It means she will now be prevented from entering any retail premises within the force area, with the exception of a pharmacy, a supermarket and a clothing retailer.

Should Liddle, of Newcastle, ignore the terms and conditions of her order, she faces arrest and a possible jail term.

Inspector Patrick Hannon, of Northumbria Police, said: “We are pleased to have secured this order, which is thanks to the excellent and tireless work of our officers.

“Liddle has consistently targeted retailers for a number of years and exhausted every opportunity given to her to change her ways. With that in mind, we feel that this is the best way to manage her offending.

“The severity of this order demonstrates the seriousness of her criminality and the significant impact it has had on the retail community within the region, which is something we will simply not accept.

“I hope this ruling sends a clear message to other shoplifters that your behaviour will not be tolerated and you will be brought to justice.”

Insp Hannon added: “I’d like to reassure the public that should we find Liddle to be in a premises she shouldn’t be, we will not hesitate to take action and get her arrested.

“Please, if you do witness her in one of the shops she shouldn’t be, contact us immediately so that we can take the appropriate action.

“We hope that this news offers reassurance to the wider community and, as a Force, we will continue to do everything in our power to act on concerns reported and bring effective justice against prolific offenders.”

Anyone who witnesses Liddle in a premises she is prohibited from entering is asked to send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the live chat function on the website.

For those who cannot contact the Force via these ways, they can call 101.

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