Theft

If you have been charged with theft, it may be your first experience with the criminal justice system.

Our Theft Solicitors will help you navigate police interviews, bail, and attending court. By instructing us, you will feel fully supported and confident with one of the most experienced criminal law teams on your side in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, the East Midlands, and across the UK.

Based in our Nottingham offices, we are a diverse, multi-lingual law firm that uses best-in-class technology to provide streamlined, modern, and highly effective criminal defence. Our years of experience in criminal law have fostered relationships with some of the UK’s best Barristers and King’s Counsel. Our clients benefit from our ability to instruct the country’s most respected expert witnesses, who can provide the court with the facts required to support a not guilty plea or mitigate the sentence handed down by a judge.

Advising and Representing People Accused of Committing a Criminal Offense

We are highly recommended as an expert criminal defence law firm for people accused of committing a crime. We provide 24/7 police station representation, ensuring we are by your side, protecting your interests from the start. Understanding the correct procedure the police must follow when making an arrest, we will carefully examine the circumstances surrounding your detention and get the charges dropped if proper processes were not complied with.

Our criminal law solicitors and their team have in-depth experience in defending serious criminal charges, including theft. We work with the country’s top expert witnesses and focus on providing advice and representation you can trust. We know that your reputation, freedom, and your family’s financial security are at stake – therefore, we never give up until every appeal has been exhausted.

Below are several common questions clients ask us concerning theft.

What is Theft?

Although sometimes used interchangeably, theft, robbery, and burglary are different offenses.

Theft is where a person dishonestly takes property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. For instance, shoplifting is depriving the store owner of items that, until they are sold, belong to them.

Robbery involves stealing someone’s property but with a degree of violence, such as threatening someone with a knife and demanding their wallet.

Burglary involves entering a building as a trespasser with intent to steal, inflict grievous bodily harm, or cause unlawful damage to the building.

What are the Defences to a Charge of Theft?

Section 2 of the Theft Act 1968 states that a person has not dishonestly taken another’s property if:

• They have a legal right to take the property; or
• The owner would agree to their taking it if they knew about it; or
• Although they took reasonable steps, they could not find the person to whom the property belongs.

The prosecution must prove dishonesty, which is not always straightforward. In the civil case of Ivey v Genting Casinos [2018], the Supreme Court set out the test to determine dishonesty.

What is the Sentence if I am Convicted of Theft?

Theft can be tried in the Crown Court and the Magistrates’ Court. The maximum penalty in the Crown Court is seven years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. If convicted in the Magistrates’ Court, you could receive up to six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Low-value shoplifting is a summary offense only; therefore, the maximum custodial sentence is six months.

Why Choose Us?

Regardless of the charges against you, you are entitled to a criminal defence. We do not judge our clients; our only objective is to defend you against the prosecution’s allegations. By instructing us to defend you, your chances of acquittal or a reduced sentence are greatly improved. The most important factor is to contact us as soon as you become aware of the criminal charges brought against you.

Smalleys Solicitors provides exceptional Theft and Criminal Law services to clients. People choose and recommend us not just in Nottingham, Arnold, Hucknall, Derby and Mansfield, but across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & the East Midlands, and the whole of the UK, because we get results.

To receive expert advice and representation regarding Theft and Criminal Law, please contact us using the form below, call us on (0115) 955 6555, email via the Request a Callback form on this contact page.