Overview
- He broke into Gray & Bull Opticians in Nottingham city centre just after 5 a.m. on November 5 and took about 50 high‑value sunglasses and frames worth roughly £8,000.
- A staff member later spotted him loitering near the shop, prompting officers to respond and pursue him through the city centre.
- He attempted to evade capture by climbing into a large commercial refuse bin next to St Peter’s Church, where members of the public directed police to his hiding place.
- Body‑worn camera footage recorded officers lifting the lid and finding him inside before arresting him at the scene.
- Ashley Lawrence, 37, of no fixed address and wanted on recall to prison, admitted burglary at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court and received a 12‑month jail sentence, with police citing his numerous theft convictions since 2022.