A UK-based influencer has been convicted after stealing a set of popular Jellycat soft toys from a farm shop in Cheshire, a court heard, with the 26-year-old later telling police she was in tax debt when she carried out the theft. Imogen Carol, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, admitted taking six plush toys valued at £160 from the Lambing Shed in Knutsford. Proceedings at Crewe Magistrates Court were told the items were never recovered, Daily Mail reported. CCTV footage shown in court captured Carol moving around the shop several times before placing the toys into her bag. Prosecutor Gabrielle Harrison said she then picked up a packet of crisps and a dip and paid for them at the till, in what was described as an attempt to divert attention from the items she had already taken. Carol was later arrested by police. She initially denied the offense but changed her plea to guilty on the first day of trial after being presented with the CCTV evidence. During questioning, she said she owed money to HM Revenue and Customs, the UK government department responsible for collecting taxes, and described the theft as “opportunistic”, saying she had given in to “temptation”. The court heard she was on bail at the time of the incident and has six previous convictions covering 11 offences, including six for theft or attempted theft. In mitigation, her solicitor Lee Yates said she had been facing financial difficulties linked to a previous business which left her with ongoing tax debt. “Debts to HMRC simply do not go away,” she told the court, adding that she accepted what she had done was wrong and had not been offended since 2019. Sentencing her, chairman of the bench Alan Jones said: “You committed this offense while on police bail and you do have some previous convictions.” Carol was ordered to pay a £162 fine, reduced from £180 due to her guilty plea, along with £265 in costs, a victim surcharge and £160 in compensation. The stolen items were from Jellycat, a London-founded brand established in 1999 that has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. The company now sells in 77 countries, with prices ranging from around £15 for smaller toys to £200 for larger designs. Some limited edition items have been known to sell for more than £1,000 online, making them increasingly attractive targets for theft.
