Britain's most prolific female shoplifter racks up 171st conviction

Britain's most prolific female shoplifter - who has terrorised shopkeepers for years with a string of bizarre disguises - has been banned from every shop across two counties after racking up her 171st conviction.

Tanya Liddle, dubbed a 'one woman crimewave', has long been the scourge of store owners in the North East and has been arrested nearly 400 times, racking up a staggering 171 convictions.

The 43-year-old has gained notoriety for using an array of headwear to disguise herself while scouring shops for items to pinch.

Her prolific offending has now resulted in a unique civil injunction, banning her from entering any shop in Northumbria Police's 2,000 square mile area, except for one pharmacy, one supermarket and one clothes store.

The force says it is the strictest order they have ever issued against a repeat offender and Liddle faces prison if she breaks the terms of the order.

CCTV shows the shameless crook wearing a large floppy hat while stealing £1,500 worth of designer bags from TK Maxx on April 24.

She is seen in the footage carrying bags on her arms as she casually walks out of the store on the Westmorland Retail Park in Cramlington, Northumberland.

Liddle is also seen in other large hats and jackets after a series of raids on stores across the North East.

Her offending stretches back over a decade, with the 43-year-old sentenced to 15 months in prison back in 2016 after admitting charges of theft and affray.

On sentencing Liddle at the time, Judge Peter Davies, said: 'You have 122 convictions for 357 offences, most minor nuisance crimes. You are a one-woman crimewave.'

Inspector Patrick Hannon 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.

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'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.

'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.'