Moment burglar is caught hiding in a BIN after stealing £8,000 value of designer sun shades

A burglar who stole £8,000 worth of designer sunglasses from opticians was later found hiding inside a nearby bin.

Ashley Lawrence, 37, broke into the Nottingham city centre store just after 5am on November 5 before stealing around 50 pairs of high-value sunglasses and glasses frames.

Three days later, a staff member at Gray & Bull Opticians spotted him loitering near the shop and called the police after recognising him.

Lawrence, who was wanted on recall to prison, tried to flee from the police with officers giving chase.

However, members of the public saw  Lawrence diving into a large commercial refuse bin next to a church and alerted the police.

Body-cam footage captured the moment officers discovered him cowering among the rubbish by lifting up the lid before his head poked out from the top of the bin. 

An officer handcuffed and arrested Lawrence while he was still standing inside the waste container, before he was taken into custody.

Lawrence, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was jailed for 12 months.

This is the moment officers discovered Ashley Lawrence, 37, cowering among the rubbish after stealing £8,000 worth of designer sunglasses

CCTV captured the moment Lawrence broke into the Nottingham city centre store just after 5am on November 5 before stealing around 50 pairs of high-value sunglasses and glasses frames

Lawrence, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was jailed for 12 months

Arresting officer PC Ben King, of the force’s city centre neighbourhood policing team, said after the case: ‘This was an appalling crime and I’d like to thank the staff member and the public for helping us apprehend Lawrence.

‘Regrettably, he is well-known to us as he is a persistent officer who has repeatedly failed to comply with court orders since 2022.

‘Over this period, he has amassed numerous convictions for theft-related offences, including a series of shoplifting incidents throughout 2023 and 2024, many of which resulted in custodial sentences.

‘Needless to say, we are pleased he is back behind bars and I am sure local businesses share that sentiment.

‘I hope this latest conviction reassures them that we are fully committed to tackling retail crime and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.’