A prolific Nottingham shoplifter has been returned to prison just three months after his release after he committed new offences.
Kyle Smith was jailed for 26 weeks on 13 October 2025 after he was convicted of a string of shop thefts.
The 36-year-old, who has numerous shoplifting convictions, was released on licence on 5 November and went on to commit further thefts including thousands of pounds’ worth of designer sunglasses from Boots and Vision Express at Nottingham’s Victoria Centre.
Among the stolen sunglasses were Gucci and Prada frames worth hundreds of pounds each.
Officers from the City Centre neighbourhood policing team located Smith on 5 February and took him into custody, where he was charged with stealing:
• £1,000 worth of designer glasses from Boots in Victoria Centre on 4 February
• £1,100 worth of designer glasses from Boots in Victoria Centre on 3 February
• £1,200 worth of designer glasses from Vision Express in Victoria Centre on 23 January
• £19.85 worth of goods including washing powder and a soft drink from Victoria Service Station in Huntingdon Street on 19 January
• Two bottles of fragrance with an unknown value from Savers in Exchange Walk on 16 January
•£40 worth of gift sets from Lush in Clumber Street on 14 January
• £53 worth of laundry items from One Stop in St Ann’s Well Road on 5 January
Smith was further charged with assault after a shop assistant reported having her arm shoved into a plastic barrier during the theft at Savers on 16 January.
Due to these charges, he was immediately recalled to prison.
Smith, of no fixed address, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday 6 February and pleaded guilty to the seven shop thefts and assault.
He is due to be sentenced on 25 February.
Chief Inspector Kylie Davies, who oversees the City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“Smith is a prolific offender who has shown a complete disregard for the law by committing a string of shoplifting offences, including high-value thefts, within weeks of his release from prison.
“I am pleased Smith is back behind bars and I hope this action reassures local businesses and members of the public that we are doing everything we can to protect them from persistent offenders.
“Neighbourhood policing in the city centre is made up of three teams and they all played an important role in putting a stop to Smith’s latest crime spree.
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“His brazen and persistent offending has had a considerable impact on local businesses. Therefore, we have applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order that, if approved, would ban him from the city centre when he is next released from prison.”
