Calderwood House, Montpellier Parade, Cheltenham GL50 1UA
Our criminal defence solicitors provide clear legal advice and representation for people facing allegations of theft and related offences. We can advise you from the initial investigation and police interview through to court proceedings, helping you understand the allegations, evidence and legal options available to you.
Criminal Defence Advice
An accusation of theft can damage your confidence and place your employment or reputation under pressure before any court has considered the evidence. Our solicitors listen to your explanation of how the property came into your possession and examine the records relied on against you. We help you understand the allegation and prepare a response grounded in the facts, including cases where a misunderstanding, disputed permission or an incomplete account has led to police involvement.
A shoplifting allegation and a workplace theft investigation can involve very different evidence, from a short CCTV sequence to months of stock, payment or access records. Our criminal defence team tests the allegation of dishonesty as well as the ownership and movement of the property. We can advise before interview, prepare a contested case or address sentencing and repayment issues where an offence is admitted, with clear advice about the practical consequences of each option.
Under the Theft Act 1968, theft involves dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving them of it. Each element requires consideration, including your actual knowledge or belief about the circumstances when dishonesty is assessed. An intention to return something does not resolve every case, and repayment does not automatically erase an offence already committed. Shoplifting is a form of theft, while handling stolen goods involves different legal requirements.
Shoplifting allegations may rely on store CCTV, security staff accounts, receipts and recovered items. Workplace or business allegations can involve stock records, access logs, emails, financial records and internal investigations. We review the material in the context of your instructions and the allegation being made.
Where the dispute involves ownership, permission, repayment, employment arrangements or a longer course of events, the background can be important. We take time to understand that context rather than treating every allegation of missing money or property as the same type of case.
Our police interview advice can help address a theft allegation before a charging decision is made.
If you have already been charged, we can obtain the prosecution papers, review the evidence and prepare for the next hearing or trial. The route through court depends on the precise offence, seriousness and any connected allegations.
An allegation involving unlawful entry or force may require burglary or robbery defence advice because the prosecution must establish additional legal elements.
A receipt, permission to use an item or a genuine belief about ownership may be important, but it must be examined alongside the other evidence. Returning goods after an allegation does not require police to end the investigation. A partial CCTV clip or inaccurate stock record may be open to challenge, yet an unsupported assertion that all records are wrong is unlikely to help. We identify the precise disputed issue and seek material capable of testing it.
The background to a theft allegation often matters. We look at the evidence, your account and any relationship or business context so the preparation focuses on what is actually disputed rather than just the label placed on the charge.
Where the papers include CCTV, stock records, financial material or a series of alleged incidents, we organise the evidence so you can see what is being relied upon and what happens next. We can remain involved from interview through to trial or sentence if the case continues.
The estimate will reflect the number of alleged incidents, the amount of CCTV or business evidence and whether the matter is resolved at an early hearing or proceeds to trial. We explain any separate advocacy, expert and travel charges, with VAT where applicable. If compensation is proposed, we also address its evidential basis and your means; payment to a complainant is separate from the cost of legal representation.
We do not accept legal aid instructions. If you choose our firm, we will agree our fees with you before substantive work begins.
Theft Defence FAQs
Common questions about CCTV, workplace theft, police interviews, court proceedings and costs.
Evidence can include CCTV, security staff statements, receipts, store records, recovered property and what was said during any police interview. The full sequence matters, including payment attempts, events outside the camera view and any explanation given when the person was stopped.
Yes. Workplace theft cases can involve internal records, emails, financial material, stock data and an employer investigation as well as police evidence. We can assess how those records were produced and whether the alleged loss is actually linked to your conduct.
Permission, ownership and the background to how the property was obtained can be relevant. We would need to review the specific allegation and evidence rather than assume every dispute amounts to theft.
Yes. You can obtain legal advice while the police investigation is ongoing and have a solicitor present if you are interviewed under caution. Provide the police contact details and any relevant receipts, permission messages or ownership records before the appointment if possible.
The route depends on the charge, seriousness, value and any connected allegations. We can explain where the case is likely to be dealt with after reviewing the papers.
Compensation can be considered in appropriate cases. If the matter reaches sentencing, we can advise on the financial issues raised and prepare mitigation. The amount should be considered against the loss proved and your financial circumstances rather than simply accepting the sum first requested.
Yes. We can discuss taking over during the investigation or after charge and obtain the papers needed for the next stage. We check the next hearing, existing directions and the records already obtained so that evidence requests can be prioritised.
Fees depend on the stage, amount of evidence, number of hearings and whether the case proceeds to trial. We can explain the likely work and costs before you decide to instruct us.
Returning an item may be relevant to the facts or mitigation, but it does not automatically prevent a charge. The issue includes your intention and conduct at the relevant time. We review the circumstances of taking and returning the property, along with any contemporaneous messages or explanation.
No. An employer's decision is not a criminal conviction, and the prosecution must prove the offence in court. Internal records and interviews may still be used as evidence. We examine how the employer reached its conclusions and identify any gaps between a workplace concern and proof of criminal dishonesty.
If the police have contacted you, an interview is approaching or you already have a court date, speak to us about the allegation and the evidence available. We can explain the next stage, how we can help and the likely costs.
Arrange a telephone call or visit our Cheltenham office by appointment. We assist clients in Cheltenham and the surrounding Gloucestershire area.
Call 0330 900 0377, email info@pembridgesolicitors.co.uk or request a consultation.
Pembridge Solicitors
Calderwood House, Montpellier Parade
Cheltenham GL50 1UA
Office visits by appointment.