A prolific shoplifter who stole more than £4,000 worth of goods from supermarkets across South Wales has been jailed for four months. Ashley Daley, 39, was caught on CCTV calmly lifting an entire display of Cadbury Mini Eggs from a Tesco store and walking out with it.
Daley struck at supermarkets in Cardiff, Taffs Well, Merthyr Tydfil, Chepstow and Caldicot over a three-week period, filling bags with Easter treats, chocolate and meat. On January 30 he took cans of vodka and bottles of Prosecco worth £60 from Tesco Express in Whitchurch. Days later, on February 2, he and a woman stole more than £271 of products from a Tesco in Chepstow.
He returned to the Whitchurch store on February 4 and stripped a fridge of fish and meat worth over £200. On February 7, he was filmed with two women stuffing Sports Direct and B&M bags with confectionery at a Co-op in Caldicot, making off with £167.60 of items. Daley made no attempt to conceal his identity during the spree.
He was arrested on February 21 while carrying a kitchen knife and later charged with 12 offences of theft, one of attempted theft and one of possession of a bladed article. Further charges relating to shoplifting in the West Midlands were also brought. When asked about grabbing the Mini Eggs display, Daley replied: “No comment.” Detective Constable Warriner said Daley showed “a clear disregard for the law” and that shoplifting is “not a victimless crime”, adding that the jail term prevents him from targeting more businesses.
