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A 25-year-old British South Asian man has been handed a six-month prison sentence following a brazen spree of retail thefts in Twyford that culminated in his arrest twice within 24 hours.
Muhammad Chaudhry, of no fixed abode, appeared before Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 11, where he was sentenced for a persistent pattern of criminal behavior targeting the local business community.
A Pattern of Persistence
The court heard that between December 2025 and February 2026, Chaudhry targeted the Waitrose in Twyford on eight separate occasions, specifically stealing alcohol.
The timeline of his final apprehension highlights a striking disregard for the legal system:
Monday, Feb 9: Chaudhry was arrested at Twyford train station by a Neighbourhood Policing officer shortly after shoplifting from Waitrose.
Tuesday, Feb 10: He appeared in court and was granted a 16-week suspended sentence.
Tuesday Afternoon: Within hours of his release, Chaudhry returned to the same Waitrose store to shoplift again. He was detained by store detectives and re-arrested by police.
Wednesday, Feb 11: Back in front of magistrates, his suspended sentence was activated and increased to a definitive six-month custodial term.
Police Response
PC Dzhuli Bogdanova, of the Wokingham Neighbourhood Policing Team, emphasized the necessity of the custodial sentence to protect local commerce.
"Muhammad Chaudhry has demonstrated a pattern of behaviour that causes significant harm to retailers and the local community," PC Bogdanova stated. "Even after being sentenced for multiple shoplifting offences, he returned to offending straight away. Our officers acted swiftly, and we will not hesitate to pursue further action against those who repeatedly ignore the law."
The case serves as a stern warning to repeat offenders that the "revolving door" of retail crime will be met with firm, immediate consequences by Thames Valley Police.
