Nottingham's Chocolate Thief Banned from Hotel Chocolat After £851 Spree
A persistent shoplifter has been formally excluded from Hotel Chocolat for two years following a sustained campaign of thefts targeting the luxury confectioner's Nottingham city centre store. Charlotte Jones, 35, from Cheltenham Street in Old Basford, Nottingham, systematically stole high-value chocolate selection boxes and gift sets, amassing goods worth £851 across seven separate incidents.
A Pattern of Persistent Theft
The thefts commenced in December 2024, with Jones intensifying her activities in the lead-up to last Christmas. Her criminal spree was captured on the store's CCTV system, providing clear evidence of her actions. On December 8 last year, she stole £90 worth of chocolate from the Albert Street boutique. She returned just a couple of weeks later, on December 23, to pilfer a further £62 of sweet treats.
Undeterred, Jones targeted the shop once more at the start of this year, stealing £60 of confectionery on January 2 without any attempt to make payment. In total, her seven thefts at the same Albert Street location occurred between December 2024 and January 2026, demonstrating a clear pattern of offending.
Court Sanctions and Police Action
Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 3, Jones pleaded guilty to the charges. She was handed a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. More significantly, magistrates granted Nottinghamshire Police a criminal behaviour order on January 17, formally banning her from entering the Hotel Chocolat store for a period of two years.
Sergeant Dan Butler, of Nottinghamshire Police's city centre neighbourhood team, emphasised the impact of such crimes. 'Jones is a persistent shoplifter, and we know her behaviour has harmed city centre businesses due to her disregard for the law,' he stated. 'We are continuing to clamp down on prolific offenders with restrictive court orders banning them from certain shops or the city centre altogether.'
The Consequences of Breaching the Order
The criminal behaviour order represents a significant tool for local law enforcement. 'If their behaviour continues, we can more easily add further restrictions to the order, which makes it an arrestable offence to be in a particular area before products are stolen,' explained Sergeant Butler. Breaching this order is itself a criminal offence and, due to her suspended sentence, would likely result in Jones being immediately jailed.
In addition to the ban, Jones was ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £152 in compensation to the business. The police force stated that the ban was implemented specifically 'to protect businesses and the public from Jones after she was identified as a prolific offender.'
Sergeant Butler concluded by outlining the balanced approach taken by authorities: 'Support is available to vulnerable people who choose to engage with us; however, we also have a duty to protect businesses and the public from harm. These orders are effective, and for as long as prolific shoplifters keep committing offences, we will continue to put them before the courts.' The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by retailers and the judicial measures being deployed to combat repeat offenders in city centres.
