Two men who broke into an Ann Summers shop in Nottingham and stole £12,059-worth of lingerie and sex toys have been sentenced after police caught them fleeing the scene.
Jason Kamal, 48, and Ashley Hillsley, 21, forced their way into the retailer’s Long Row branch at about 4.32am on August 14. CCTV showed the pair wearing gloves and high-visibility clothing as they smashed into the premises.
They tore an alarm panel from the wall and damaged the stockroom before loading negligees and sex toys into a vehicle. Officers arrived within three minutes of receiving reports of a burglary in progress, prompting the pair to flee.
Body-worn camera footage later showed police discovering a large quantity of Ann Summers stock in the boot of Hillsley’s car.
Kamal initially denied entering the shop, despite his face being visible on CCTV. Hillsley said he had been bullied into taking part, claiming his role was to act as a lookout and help with the burglary.
He also said he had been promised a large sum of money and told he would no longer be “a nobody”.
Kamal was additionally arrested over a burglary at Professional Mobile in Arnold, Nottingham, on July 28, during which electronic devices worth £13,000 were stolen. Investigators linked him to the crime after a vape left at the scene contained his DNA, while the phone he was using had been stolen from the shop.
He was also linked to four other break-ins at stores.
Kamal, who has no fixed address, and Hillsley, of Mansfield, appeared for sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday October 15. Kamal admitted six counts of burglary, while Hillsley pleaded guilty to one count.
Kamal was jailed for three years. Hillsley received an 18-month community order, with a probation requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Chief Inspector Kylie Davies, of Nottinghamshire Police, said officers had done “a fantastic job of detaining two suspects within minutes of the call coming in”.
She said the stolen Ann Summers goods had also been recovered, adding: “These are not mastermind criminals, quite the opposite, who had no chance whatsoever of getting away with this crime.”
Ms Davies said the evidence had left the men with “no other option than plead guilty to the offence at court”.
She added: “Business crime is not a victimless crime.”
She said officers had carried out extensive work to bring the case to court and ensure the owners and staff of the affected businesses received justice.
