A prolific thief who terrorized Faversham and Ashford shops during a relentless two-week crime spree has been jailed and hit with a severe ban that prohibits him from entering multiple stores upon his release.
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Billy Bird, 27, of Ospringe, was sentenced to eight weeks in prison after admitting to a string of thefts, which included stealing hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol and groceries.
Bird’s crime wave, which ran from mid-August into early September, saw him repeatedly target the same shops. The spree began on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, when he stole a bottle of whiskey from Tesco in Faversham. Later that same day, he hit Sainsbury’s in Bysing Wood Road twice, taking nearly £200 worth of alcohol.
The thief extended his reach on August 27, stealing groceries worth £75 from the Co-op in Hunters Avenue, Ashford, and returning later for more. That evening, he was back at the Faversham Tesco, stealing alcohol valued at £212.
In a separate incident, Bird drove off from the Lychgate Service Station on Thanet Way in the early hours of August 28 after refuelling his vehicle to the value of £80.06 without paying. He returned to his old habits on September 4, targeting Sainsbury’s in Faversham again to steal three bottles of vodka. Officers finally tracked down and arrested Bird the following day at a Faversham property where he was found hiding under a bed.
Bird was charged with seven counts of theft from a shop and ultimately pleaded guilty to all offences, which also included driving without a licence, driving without insurance, and trespassing on a railway line.
Appearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on October 16, 2025, Bird was handed an eight-week jail sentence and made subject to a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). The CBO strictly prohibits him from entering a long list of local premises, effectively preventing him from returning to the scenes of his crimes. The banned locations include:
- Carters Newsagents, Market Place
- All Co-op stores in Kent
- Sainsbury’s, Bysing Wood Road
- Tesco, Crescent Road
- Lychgate Service Station, Thanet Way
- Tamil’s Premier Express, Market Place
- Poundland, Preston Street
Sergeant Christopher Hill said:
‘Bird’s repeated thefts caused disruption and loss to several businesses across Faversham and Ashford. Thanks to the swift work of our officers, he was identified, arrested, and brought before the courts. The Criminal Behaviour Order imposed will help protect local retailers from further offending and sends a clear message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.’