UK social media influencer Imogen Carroll has been found guilty of stealing £160 worth of Jellycat toys.
A UK-based influencer has been found guilty after stealing a range of popular Jellycat soft toys from a farm shop in Cheshire, a court has heard, with the 26-year-old later telling police she owed taxes when she carried out the theft. Imogen Carroll, of Biddulph, Staffordshire, admitted taking six plush toys worth £160 from the Lambing Shed in Knutsford. Proceedings at Crewe Magistrates’ Court were told the items were never recovered, the Daily Mail reported. CCTV footage shown in court showed Carroll moving around the store several times before putting the toys in her bag. Prosecutor Gabrielle Harrison said she then picked up a packet of chips and salsa and paid for them at the cash register, in what was described as an attempt to divert attention from the items she had already taken. Police later arrested Carroll. She initially denied the crime but changed her plea to guilty on the first day of the trial after she was presented with CCTV evidence. During questioning, she said she owed money to HMRC, the British 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 had six previous convictions covering 11 offences, including six of theft or attempted theft.
In mitigation, her lawyer Lee Yates said she was facing financial difficulties linked to a previous job which left her with ongoing tax debts. “The debts owed to HMRC will not simply disappear,” he told the court, adding that she accepted what she did was wrong and had not committed any offense since 2019. Sentencing her, presiding judge Alan Jones said: “You committed this offense while on police bail and had some previous convictions.”
Carroll was ordered to pay a fine of £162, reduced from £180 due to her guilty plea, plus costs of £265, a victim surcharge and £160 compensation. The stolen items were from Jellycat, a brand founded in London in 1999 that has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. The company now sells in 77 countries, with prices ranging from around £15 for small 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.
