Two men have been sentenced following a burglary at an Ann Summers store in Nottingham city centre where they stole lingerie and sex toys worth £12,059. According to BBC News, Jason Kamal and Ashley Hillsley were detained after police responded to reports of a burglary in progress at the Long Row premises at 04:32 BST on 14 August. A search of Hillsley's vehicle uncovered a substantial quantity of stolen Ann Summers products in the boot.
Kamal, aged 48 with no fixed address, and Hillsley, 21, of Big Barn Lane in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday where they received their sentences. The Telegraph reported that Kamal admitted six burglary counts while Hillsley pleaded guilty to one count relating to the Ann Summers theft.
How did the burglary unfold?
During the raid on the Ann Summers shop, the pair wore gloves and high-visibility clothing as they targeted the premises. The Chad reported that they ripped an alarm panel from the wall and damaged a stockroom door while committing the theft. CCTV footage captured the burglary and the subsequent detention of both men by officers.
Kamal initially denied entering the Ann Summers shop despite his face being clearly visible on CCTV recordings. Hillsley, by contrast, claimed he had been coerced into participating in the burglary, stating his role was limited to acting as a lookout and providing assistance. He told the court he had been promised a substantial sum of money and assurances that he would no longer be regarded as a "nobody".
What was Kamal's criminal history?
Kamal's involvement extended beyond the Ann Summers burglary. He was also arrested in connection with a separate burglary at Professional Mobile, located on Front Street in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, which occurred on 28 July. During that incident, he stole electronic devices valued at approximately £13,000.
Police identified Kamal through physical evidence left at the Professional Mobile scene: a vape device bearing his DNA and a mobile phone stolen from the store that he was using at the time of his arrest. Court records showed that Kamal had accumulated 36 previous convictions spanning 61 offences, with 40 of those convictions relating to dishonesty. He was arrested on 24 March following the investigation.
What sentences did they receive?
Kamal was sentenced to three years in prison, a term that covers both the Ann Summers burglary and the Professional Mobile theft. Hillsley received a more lenient outcome, being handed an 18-month community order, probation and 150 hours of unpaid work for his role in the Ann Summers burglary.
Hillsley's sentencing reflected mitigating factors presented to the court. He had only two previous convictions and was serving a conditional discharge for battery at the time of the offence. Importantly, he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had subsequently secured full-time employment, demonstrating steps toward rehabilitation.
What did police say about the case?
Following the sentencing, Chief Inspector Kylie Davies commented on the nature of the offences and the investigation.
These are not mastermind criminals, quite the opposite, who had no chance whatsoever of getting away with this crime.
Davies emphasised that business crime carries genuine consequences for victims.
Business crime is not a victimless crime.She added that officers had undertaken extensive investigative work to bring the case to court and to secure justice for the business owners and staff affected by the thefts.
Key Facts
- £12,059 worth of Ann Summers products were stolen in the burglary on 14 August
- Jason Kamal received a three-year prison sentence for two separate burglaries totalling approximately £25,000 in stolen goods
- Ashley Hillsley was sentenced to an 18-month community order, probation and 150 hours unpaid work
- Kamal had 36 previous convictions for 61 offences, including 40 for dishonesty
- Both men were identified through CCTV footage and forensic evidence including DNA
