Prolific shoplifter jailed after latest crime spree in Northampton leads to magistrates activating suspended sentence

Chloe Molloy, of no fixed address, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday January 12, to face 14 charges.

The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to 12 thefts from The One Shop in Stanhope Road, Northampton, where she stole £567 of laundry products, boxes of chocolate and other items between November 26, 2025 and January 3, 2026.

She also admitted one count of assault by beating and a further theft from shop offence, both of which occurred at the B&M store in Victoria Promenade on Christmas Eve 2025.

Police say on this occasion, Molloy spat directly in the face of the store’s security officer after she was challenged attempting to leave without paying for two drills that were valued at a total of £73.98.

Neil Cowley of the Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership said: “Everyone should have the right to go to work and do their job safely, including retail staff, and it is right that Chloe Molloy has been jailed for her unacceptable behaviour.

“She has a history of offending across Northamptonshire and has been given several chances to change her behaviour. Hopefully this sentence will not only give retailers respite but while it won’t be easy, this will also give her time to reflect and the opportunity to return to society in a more positive place.

“There is a perception that shop theft is not taken seriously but sentences like this show that our retail partnership working with the force is making a huge difference to communities and retailers.”

Molloy was handed a two-week custodial sentence for each of the new theft offences to run consecutively. She was also handed a further four-weeks’ imprisonment for the assault, which will run concurrently to the other sentences.

However, on June 6 last year, Molloy was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison after she was convicted of nine thefts from two retailers in Kettering. At the time, magistrates suspended the sentence for 18 months. This sentence has now been activated.

Molloy will serve a total of 62 weeks in prison.