A MAN from North Dorset has appeared in court after being charged with 18 counts of shoplifting.

Simon Philip Pope, 35, appeared before magistrates in Poole on Monday (September 30) in connection with repeated reports of shoplifting in Bournemouth.

He was charged over alleged thefts from shops in Charminster Road and Ripon Road, Bournemouth, between Saturday, August 3 and Tuesday, August 20.

Pope is next due to appear at the same court on Wednesday, October 23.

“Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team have been working with the business community to investigate these reported incidents and will continue to identify anyone suspected of stealing from shops,” a Dorset Police spokesperson said.