A 24-year-old man who magistrates heard has caused years of distress in Exeter city centre has been jailed and banned from large parts of the city after admitting multiple thefts, fraud and obstructing officers.
Sentence and restrictions
Luke Bament, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 44 weeks at a hearing late in June after pleading guilty to a number of offences including the use of a stolen bank card, nine counts of theft and one count of obstructing and resisting police.
| Offence | Details |
|---|---|
| Theft | Included stealing a £70 bottle of perfume from John Lewis and £6 of food from Haven Banks Co-op |
| Fraud by false representation | Attempted use of a stolen bank card in Exeter on 23 April 2026 to pay £396 |
| Other | One count of obstructing and resisting police |
| Sentence / Order | Jail: 44 weeks; Criminal Behaviour Order in force until 24 June 2031 |
Areas covered by the Criminal Behaviour Order
The full Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) imposed by magistrates prevents Bament from entering or loitering in specified parts of Exeter and nearby retail areas for five years. It covers:
- Sidwell Street, Fore Street (city centre), South Street
- Guildhall Shopping Centre and Princesshay Shopping Centre
- The Exe Bridges retail park and Cowick Street in St Thomas
- Specific Exeter Business Against Crime stores and other private premises from which he has been banned in writing
- Sitting or loitering outside any business premise within the city’s PSPO area
“Luke Bament has been a persistent offender in Exeter city centre for several years.”
Policing and community impact
Police and retail staff have long reported repeat shoplifting accompanied by abusive behaviour, drunkenness and loitering. The court heard Bament's activity had caused "years of misery" for staff and customers in the city centre. Neighbourhood officers have said they are prepared to enforce the CBO when Bament is released from custody.
The order's geographical reach — covering central shopping streets, both main indoor malls and an out-of-centre retail park — reflects a determination to protect staff and the public across the primary retail footprint of Exeter. It also highlights the role of Criminal Behaviour Orders as a tool to manage persistent anti-social behaviour that affects local businesses and community confidence.
What this means for residents and businesses
For retailers and shoppers in Exeter, the outcome will be seen as a firm response to repeated offending that had a noticeable impact on day-to-day life in the city centre. The CBO gives police and private premises a clearer legal basis on which to act if the banned individual returns to the covered areas. Local businesses and community groups who have reported incidents can expect police to use the terms of the order when monitoring and responding to reports.
Magistrates’ decisions like this underscore ongoing tensions between managing repeat offending and providing support for vulnerable individuals. The court record lists the offences, the sentence and the areas subject to restrictions; it does not detail underlying causes or any linked diversionary support. For now, the priority set out by policing is to reassure the public that retail crime and abusive behaviour in the city's shopping heart will be addressed through enforcement when necessary.
