"She has been given numerous opportunities to prove her remorse, but I'm afraid this is all just the cunning of a thief," the judge at Chester Crown Court said on 12/8, while sentencing 37-year-old Kayleigh Bradley.

Bradley was convicted of stealing over £4,000 worth of goods from various stores.

The defendant has been involved in criminal activity for at least 12 years, with a record of 128 arrests for similar offenses.

Kayleigh Bradley. Telegraph

Kayleigh Bradley. Telegraph

In 2013, at the age of 25, during her first offense, she tearfully recounted her difficult childhood and was subsequently acquitted, receiving a 2-month supervision order. The judge believed she had "the potential to change."

The only thing that seems to have changed is that she now chooses more expensive items to steal, and continues to get caught.

In less than a year between 2023 and 2024, Bradley was tried four times in Liverpool courts, but each time received a suspended sentence. At these trials, she continued to portray herself as a victim of domestic violence, orphaned at 10, with an unstable income and a troubled childhood, and struggling with alcohol addiction.

After being released, she continued her shoplifting spree across various cities, using the same tactics. Bradley used foil-lined bags and a small "label remover" she purchased online to circumvent security alarms.

On 26/5, surveillance cameras captured her and a man leaving a supermarket with nearly £900 worth of goods, before proceeding to steal designer glasses worth £1,500 from other stores.

The store manager later reviewed the surveillance footage and identified further instances of her shoplifting. The thefts were described by the prosecution as "sophisticated and planned."

Appearing in court this time, Bradley likely thought her tears would work their magic again, but the judge was no longer swayed. In addition to her previous stories, she mentioned having a 12-year-old son, wanting to spend time raising him well, and pleaded to be spared jail time.

However, the judge retorted, "You want to spend time with your son, but you're always shoplifting?" He also expressed astonishment at witnessing someone receive four consecutive suspended sentences. He expressed sympathy for those with "difficult and sad circumstances," but stated that Bradley had been given ample opportunities, which she seemed not to appreciate.

Kayleigh Bradley was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Shoplifting is causing concern for retailers, costing over £2.2 billion last year. Economist

Shoplifting is causing concern for retailers, costing over £2.2 billion last year. Economist

Shoplifting in the UK

Retailers describe shoplifting as "out of control" after official figures revealed that shoplifting in England and Wales is at its highest level since records began over two decades ago.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 530,643 shoplifting incidents were reported in the first three months of 2025, equivalent to nearly 5,900 incidents per day.

The CEO of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) stated that official statistics only tell part of the story. Separate data from the ACS's crime report indicate that convenience stores recorded over 6.2 million shoplifting incidents in the past year, an average of 17,000 per day.

Retailers say they don't report incidents to the police because they don't believe they will be investigated or resolved. Retail groups express concern about the rise in organized crime, stating that gangs are "targeting stores."

Earlier this year, the UK introduced the Crime and Policing Bill, aiming to address this "epidemic" and rebuild local police forces.

Over 500 town centers will receive increased patrols, and an additional 3,000 neighborhood police officers and community support officers will be deployed by next spring.

Shoplifting is estimated to have cost £2.2 billion in 2024.

Hai Thu (ONS, Telegraph)