Shoplifters jailed as clampdown continues in city centre

Ashleigh Mason (left) and William Chapman, who stole trainers from TK Maxx (circled in red), have been jailed

A clampdown on retail crime in Nottingham is continuing to yield results – with two more shoplifters now in prison.

More than 300 shoplifting arrests were made in the city last year and officers are continuing to track down offenders.

In the city centre – where retail crime is a neighbourhood policing priority – officers have put three shoplifters before the courts in recent days, with two receiving custodial sentences.

They include:

• Ashleigh Mason, aged 35, of no fixed address

Mason was identified from CCTV by a city centre neighbourhood officer as having committed two shop thefts at B&M Bargains, in Beeston, on 14 January.

He stole £84.65 worth of cleaning products across the two thefts and committed them just six days after he’d been released from prison on licence.

The same neighbourhood officer, PC Philip Yates, located Mason on 18 January and arrested him.

He admitted both offences and was jailed for 12 weeks after appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 20 January.

Ashleigh Mason

 

• William Chapman, aged 25, of Sneinton Boulevard, Nottingham

Chapman was arrested on 30 January after striking on five separate occasions earlier in the month.

He stole a scarf and a hat from Homesense at Castle Marina Retail Park on 4 January. Six days later he stole a pair of £49.99 trainers from TK Maxx in Milton Street. He returned on 21 January and stole another pair of trainers priced at £59.99. On the same day, he stole a Star Wars Lego set from John Lewis in the city centre worth £89.99.

The fifth offence took place on 19 January when he stole £47.25 worth of meat and salmon from Tesco Express in Compton Acres, West Bridgford.

Again, he was identified from CCTV and put before the courts.

He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on 1 February and jailed for three months.

William Chapman

 

• Peter Boumphrey, aged 50, of Wilmot Street, Long Eaton

On 25 January, Boumphrey stole four Blu-rays and two DVDs worth £95 from Fopp, in Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham. He was located in the city centre shortly after by PC Yates, who recognised him from CCTV footage.

Boumphrey appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court two days later and was jailed for four weeks, suspended for 12 months.

The stolen items were later recovered following further investigation work.

Peter Boumphrey was caught on CCTV stealing DVDs

 

PC Philip Yates, of the City Centre neighbourhood policing team, said:

“All three of these offenders are prolific shoplifters who have no regard for local retail businesses.

“As these cases demonstrate, anyone who commits offences whilst on licence from prison or when subject to a suspended sentence will quickly find themselves behind bars.

“Likewise, anyone found to be taken stolen goods from shoplifters will be investigated and action taken against them. Knowingly taking stolen property to then sell on for profit is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated.”

Nottinghamshire Police has a higher positive outcome rate for retail crime than other similar-sized forces in the country, having put some of our most prolific shoplifters behind bars during 2024.

Sergeant Liz Johnson, also from the City Centre neighbourhood policing team, said officers will continue to work hard to track down shoplifters and put them before the courts. She said:

“Tackling retail crime is a key priority for us and I am pleased more positive outcomes have been achieved at court.

“We know full well the impact that retail crime is having on our city and county and that is why we will continue to ensure those who cause the most harm to the retail sector are dealt with robustly.”

More information on how Nottinghamshire Police is tackling shoplifting can be found here: Nottinghamshire Police commended as one of three forces providing the most effective response to retail crime | Nottinghamshire Police.