Two men have been sentenced after stealing £12,059 worth of lingerie and sex toys from an Ann Summers store in Nottingham. Jason Kamal, 48, and Ashley Hillsley, 21, were detained by police minutes after the raid, which took place in the early hours of August 14.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police were called to the store on Long Row just after 4.30am. The suspects had smashed a window to gain entry and were wearing high-visibility tops. They fled the scene but were quickly arrested on suspicion of burglary.
A significant quantity of Ann Summers products, including lingerie and sex toys, was later found in the boot of Hillsley's vehicle. Police confirmed the total value of the stolen goods was £12,059.
Denials and explanations
Kamal initially denied entering the store, despite his face being clearly visible on CCTV. Hillsley, meanwhile, told police he had been bullied into taking part in the burglary and that his primary role was to act as lookout and assist. He claimed he was promised a large sum of money and that he would no longer be 'a nobody' if he went through with the crime.
Kamal was also arrested in connection with a separate burglary at Professional Mobile, a shop in Front Street, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, which took place on July 28. In that incident, electronic devices worth approximately £13,000 were stolen. Kamal left a vape with his DNA all over it at the scene, and a phone he was using was one of the stolen devices, according to the force.
Court sentencing
Both men appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, October 15. Kamal, of no fixed abode, was jailed for three years. Hillsley, of Big Barn Lane, Mansfield, was handed a community order.
Chief Inspector Kylie Davies, of Nottinghamshire Police, praised the officers involved in the case. She said: "The officers called to this incident did a fantastic job of detaining two suspects within minutes of the call coming in. Not only that but they recovered the stolen items taken from Ann Summers."
She added: "These are not mastermind criminals, quite the opposite, who had no chance whatsoever of getting away with this crime. All the evidence pointed to them where they had no other option than plead guilty to the offence at court."
Police response and wider impact
Davies also highlighted the importance of tackling business crime, stating: "Business crime is not a victimless crime. Our officers carried out extensive work to ensure this case got to court and to ensure the owners and staff of these businesses received the justice they deserved."
The case concludes with both men having been dealt with by the courts, and the stolen goods recovered by police.
