The Book Thief of Hammersmith Jailed


Carl Thurston stole from six different Waterstones stores across London


Carl Thurston. Picture: Met Police

A 41-year-old man from Hammersmith has been jailed after being found guilty of a string of thefts across London including from six branches of Waterstones.

Carl Thurston is believed to have started his latest crime spree on 11 February when he took £150 worth of books from the Wandsworth branch of the bookseller.

In subsequent months he stole stock valued at over £900 in two visits to the Notting Hill branch as well as taking from stores in Ilford, Piccadilly Circus and the King’s Road. His estimated haul of books was £2,778.

He also during this time stole £890 worth of clothes in Urban Outfitters during three separate raids.

Thurston, who has a history of drug misuse, already had 18 previous convictions for 51 offences and had been given a suspended sentence in May.

He pleaded guilty to 11 offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday 28 October as well as public order offences relating to him using abusive and homophobic language to police officers at University College Hospital on 6 October.

Thurston was sentenced to 30 weeks in prison including the term previously suspended and was ordered to pay compensation to the police officers he abused.

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November 4, 2022