A woman who carried out a series of thefts from parked cars across Milton Keynes before using stolen bank cards at local shops and petrol stations has been jailed.
Sentence follows concentrated crime across the city
On 3 September at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court, 37-year-old Leigh Ashwell, of no fixed address, was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to 18 offences. The charges included nine counts of vehicle interference and five counts of fraud by false representation, alongside a series of theft offences.
Police say the offences took place in a concentrated period from 21 June to 16 August this year and affected a number of neighbourhoods across the city, including Bletchley, Willen, Tinkers Bridge, Bancroft Park, Wolverton Mill and Greenleys. The pattern reported by officers was straightforward: Ashwell is alleged to have tried vehicle door handles, taken wallets, purses and other personal items, and then used stolen bank cards to make purchases locally.
How the offences unfolded
Milton Keynes police outlined several specific incidents that formed part of the case. On 20 June a wallet was taken from a vehicle and later the victim's bank cards were used at BP Saxon Street, Esso Fenny Stratford and Morrisons Daily in Queensway. A week later two Amazon parcels were reported stolen from an address in Tinkers Bridge; doorbell footage captured the theft. Further incidents included theft from a Porsche on 6 July — the items taken included bank cards, a driving licence and a pair of Meta glasses — and subsequent card use at BP Conniburrow. Officers also say cards taken from other vehicles were used at a Texaco in Bradwell Common.
The activity, spread across multiple districts, generated a string of reports that investigators say were brought together with help from residents.
"Leigh Ashwell repeatedly targeted members of the public, stealing personal belongings from vehicles and then using stolen bank cards to make fraudulent purchases. Her actions caused financial loss, inconvenience and distress to a number of people across Milton Keynes. I would like to thank the victims who supported our investigation, as well as the members of the public who provided information and footage that helped us build the case."
The remarks were made by Police Staff Investigator Barbara Elekes, based at Milton Keynes police station, as part of the force's public comment on the prosecution.
Practical details and local impact
The court outcome — a custodial sentence — reflects the volume and variety of offences recorded in this short period. For residents, the case highlights two points of immediate relevance: the risk of opportunist theft from vehicles, and the knock-on impact when cards and identifying documents are removed from someone's possession.
- Offence period: 21 June to 16 August
- Total offences admitted: 18
- Sentence: 8 months' imprisonment
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Principal charge types | Vehicle interference; fraud by false representation; theft offences |
| Areas affected | Bletchley, Willen, Tinkers Bridge, Bancroft Park, Wolverton Mill, Greenleys |
Local policing teams have emphasised the role that members of the public played in helping to identify and prosecute the offender. Doorbell and CCTV footage were cited by investigators as important pieces of evidence in several incidents.
For people across Milton Keynes the case is a reminder to take simple precautions: remove valuables from sight when leaving vehicles, lock doors and, when possible, report suspicious behaviour promptly. While those measures cannot prevent every crime, officers say community vigilance and good evidence can make the difference when building a case.
This sentence closes one small but damaging chapter of thefts across the city. The wider task for local services remains preventing repeat offending and supporting victims who have suffered financial loss and distress as a result of similar crimes.
