Craig Balderson Hereford

A man named Craig Balderson, aged 42 and residing in Credenhill, Hereford, has been involved in public criminal proceedings in the UK. He was convicted at Hereford Magistrates' Court in June 2026 for 47 counts of theft from shops.

Key Facts and Dates:

• Offences: Between December 2025 and March 2026, Balderson committed 47 thefts from the Tesco store in Bewell Street, Hereford.
• Method: His method involved filling a shopping basket or trolley with items, then using the self-service checkouts to scan and pay for only the cheapest item, leaving with all the goods.
• Evidence: Fifteen of these thefts, totaling £521, were captured on CCTV. Balderson admitted to an additional 32 thefts not caught on camera, though the total value of these unrecorded thefts is unknown. He primarily stole non-essential, often luxury items.
• Arrest: He was arrested on March 7, 2026, in Commercial Street.
• Confession: Initially claiming confusion, Balderson eventually confessed to all 47 thefts.
• Conviction and Sentencing: On June 2, 2026, he was convicted on all counts. His sentence included a community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days, 100 hours of unpaid work, £520 in compensation, £85 in costs, and a victim surcharge of £114.
• Court: The case was heard at Hereford Magistrates' Court.

The investigating officer, PC Lee Phillips, stated that Balderson's actions demonstrated a "deliberate and repeated pattern of offending" that was "planned, calculated, and motivated by greed rather than necessity."