‘Compassionate’ Mansfield shoplifter failed to attend crown court to be with his dying grandmother

Ashley Barnes stole £459 of goods, including chocolate, whisky, and meat, in seven separate thefts from supermarkets in Mansfield, Warsop and Nottingham between December 19 and March 18, Will Shelley, prosecuting, said.

On one occasion, while stealing £80 of chocolate from Tesco Express in Mansfield Woodhouse, another customer asked if he was going to pay for that and Barnes replied, “No.”

The offences put him in breach of a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, which was imposed in May last year after he failed to stop for police during a chase in which he collided with several other vehicles.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he has 27 previous convictions for 58 offences - 28 of which are for theft.

Rebecca Coleman, mitigating, said Barnes has struggled with drug addiction “for a large number of years” but there was a gap in his offending between 2021 and 2024.

He split from his partner, came off heroin and cocaine, and began caring for his elderly grandmother who was suffering from motor neurone disease, she said.

“During the period he was living with her he remained drug-free,” Ms Coleman added.

But when his grandmother’s condition deteriorated and live-in carers had to move in, Barnes moved out and started up with his ex-partner again. His drug abuse was re-ignited and he began stealing again to fund his addiction.

He apologies for failing to attend court on an earlier occasion because he knew his grandmother was at the end of her life and he wanted to see her before he was jailed, Ms Coleman said.

She died on March 27 and Barnes was arrested on April 7. He will get permission from the prison governor to attend her funeral.

“When you are challenged by people and you are on drugs you can be obnoxious,” Judge Michael Auty KC told him on Wednesday.

“When you are not on drugs there is a compassionate and caring side to you.”

Barnes, aged 41, of no fixed address, admitted seven shop thefts, breaching a suspended sentence order, and failing to attend court. He was sentenced to 18 months in custody.

“Your choice is stark,” the judge told him. “It's life or death. You have to get a grip.”