MORNING EDITION: Prolific shoplifter jailed

Good morning 🌅 Welcome to Tuesday everyone! Here's today's email updating you on the latest news and information from across Gedling borough. Have a great day. Look out for another update tomorrow morning.

🛒 Prolific shoplifter now behind bars after targeting stores across Gedling borough

A prolific shoplifter who targeted stores in Gedling borough has been jailed.

Shops across Arnold and Gedling were targeted by Shane Hickling during his thieving spree from July 23, 2025 to February 3, 2026. He also stole from a number of shops in Worksop.

On nine separate occasions, Hickling took items including shampoo, toothpaste and chocolates from shelves.

Police officers managed to identify the 50-year-old from CCTV captured at the premises he targeted.

Items were swiped from shelves at Boots in Front Street, Arnold, and Co-op in Westdale Lane West, Gedling.

During the shoplifting spree, officers received reports that a bike had been stolen after it was parked outside Wetherspoons, Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford on 30 July 2025.

Hickling was caught on CCTV boldly entering the premises first, and then making off with the cycle a short while later.

The prolific shoplifter was detained in Worksop by officers as he targeted Farmfoods on Tuesday, February 3. He was duly arrested outside the shop.

Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (4), Hickling, of Kent Close, Worksop, pleaded guilty to nine counts of shop theft and one count of bike theft.

Hickling, the subject of a suspended sentence order from previous offences, was jailed for a total of 46 weeks.

PC Eoin Wilson, of the Worksop South neighbourhood policing team, said: “Hickling is a persistent thief, and I hope this custodial sentence provides some respite for the stores which have been impacted by his offending.

“We want shops across Gedling borough to thrive for the good of the whole community and will always take robust action against offenders like Hickling who can cause great harm to local businesses.”

🅿️ Parking machine scam warning

Motorists in Gedling borough are being warned about a new pay-and-display machine scam circulating.

Nottinghamshire County Council say groups are printing fake QR codes and sticking them to pay-and-display machines. The scam QR sticker directs customers to pay for parking. This just takes money, and no parking stay becomes active.

The latest machines to be targeted last week were in West Bridgford, but reports aboput the scam have been received from across the county.

A council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, it’s quite a successful scam and looks fairly legitimate to people who aren’t frequent users of pay-by-phone services.

"If you suspect you have come across a scam QR code, then please email nccparkingmanager@nottscc.gov.uk.

"If you unfortunately made it through to payment without realising and have lost funds, then we advise contacting your bank's fraud team, which will deal with all types of scams."

🚦Roadworks and closures planned for Gedling borough this week

Take a look at the roadworks and closures scheduled for Gedling borough’s roads for the week beginning February 9.

Make sure to plan your journey and check before your travel as these planned works could affect you. 

Main Road, Gedling
10 February - 12 February
Roadworks, Delays likely
Works location: From the B686 Burton Road/Shearing Hill junction to the junction with Carnarvon Grove.
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottingham Road, Burton Joyce
12 February - 13 February
Roadworks, Delays likely
Works location: Works on A612 Nottingham Road between Massy Close & crow Park Drive 464141 343266
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottingham Road, Burton Joyce
15 February
Roadworks, Delays likely
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Station Road, Carlton
13 February - 18 February
Roadworks, Delays likely
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Bestwood Lodge Drive, Bestwood
11 February - 12 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Chedington Avenue, Mapperley
10 February - 12 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach Limited

Chestnut Grove, Burton Joyce
12 February - 13 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals) for maintenance on existing camera
Works location: Chestnut Grove with junction Church Road
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Church Road, Burton Joyce
12 February - 13 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals) on A612 Church Road between Chestnut Grove & Tim Lane
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Church Street, Arnold
10 February - 11 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Traffic control (give & take)
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Edwin Street, Arnold
10 February - 12 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Traffic control (give & take)
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Edwin Street, Arnold
12 February - 13 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach Ltd 

High Street, Arnold
11 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals)
Works location: Cross Street left turn on High Street
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Kingsley Drive, Netherfield
11 February - 13 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
From the Victoria Road/Kingsley Drive junction to the Kingsley Drive/Rochester Avenue junction.
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Lorimer Avenue, Gedling
10 February - 12 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach Ltd

Mansfield Road, Redhill
11 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe
12 February - 13 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Park Road, Calverton
13 February
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

🫳 Blank firing pistol amnesty now in place

From March, five blank firing pistols manufactured in Italy by Bruni will be illegal to own due to concerns they can be converted into viable firearms capable of firing live ammunition.

A national amnesty is now running until February 27th and police are encouraging people to surrender these weapons at police stations without worrying about getting into any trouble.

Anyone found with one of these weapons in their possession after the final day of amnesty date faces the possibility of up to 10 years in prison.

The weapons soon to be made illegal are 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistol, 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank firing self-loading pistol, 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank firing self-loading pistol, 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank firing self-loading pistol and .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank firing revolver

During the amnesty, firearms can be handed in locally at Oxclose Lane Police Station in Arnold.

If you wish to take part in the amnesty, police ask you take care when transporting your firearms and place them in a labelled bag or box.

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Looking out the window so you don't have to...

Today it will be cloudy and damp with persistent low cloud and spells of rain and drizzle on and off for much of the day. Temperatures will be near average but it will feel cooler.

Tonight there will be outbreaks of rain and drizzle continuing through the evening and overnight, likely becoming heavier and more persistent by dawn. Minimum temperature 6 °C.