A "prolific offender" has been banned from Romford town centre.

Steven Ellis, of Dunton Road in Romford, was handed a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) at North East London Magistrates' Court on June 27.

Police said it is in relation to shoplifting at a town centre store.

Ellis, 47, will be prevented from entering the town centre within the Romford ring road, including the Mercury Mall shopping centre.

He has been banned from begging during the same period and must not cause anti-social behaviour, harassment, alarm and distress, nuisance or annoyance to anyone within Havering.

Ellis was also given a suspended sentence for shoplifting so that any breach of the CBO, or another offence, could result in prison time.

Sgt Alex Norrington, of the Safer Neighbourhood’s Police Team, called Ellis "a prolific offender in the Romford town area and the borough of Havering".

"We are clear in our message that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Havering and will continue to take robust action when needed," Sgt Norrington added.

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Police said Ellis had been identified as a regular suspect for shoplifting and started begging in the town centre, as well as wider Havering.

He had been issued a community notice protection in 2023 with conditions attached, but police said this was breached.

The CBO order looks to divert Ellis into a drugs and alcohol programme, and to offer him support and prevent future offending.