A THIEF has to repay four shops for the food, detergents and other items she stole during a spate of shoplifting mostly in Acomb.
Lauren Chadwick, 30, continued to steal despite being put on a community order for other offences halfway through the series of shop thefts, York magistrates heard.
Her solicitor Kevin Blount said she didn’t budget for Christmas and ran out of money during the festive period so turned to theft until her next state benefits.
Chadwick, who gave an address in Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to seven thefts committed against the Co-op store in Stonebow, the One Stop shop in Acomb Road, Holgate, the Co-op shop in Acomb Road, York, and Heron Foods in Front Street, Acomb.
Magistrates revoked the existing community order and imposed a new order with 25 days’ rehabilitative activities and six months’ drug rehabilitative treatment for all offences. They ordered her to pay £355.73 compensation.
Prosecutor Louise Berry said Chadwick stole items worth £66.35 from the Co-op shop in Stonebow on October 15. On November 7, she stole items worth £10.73 from the One Stop shop, on November 14 she stole items worth £30 from the Co-op shop in Acomb, and on November 25, she stole chocolates worth £100 from Heron Foods.
On December 4, she was given the first community order.
On December 20, she was back in Heron Foods, stealing goods worth £50 and on December 21, she stole goods worth £72.05 from the One Stop shop and on December 27, she was back in the Acomb Road Co-op to steal items worth £26.60. Police kept her in custody until she could appear before the court.
None of the stolen items had been recovered, said Ms Berry.
Mr Blount said Chadwick’s problem was drugs. Since getting the first community order, she had started getting a prescription designed to help addicts kick their habit.
“She has doing extremely well,” he said.
She hoped that this time, with help from the probation service, she could get rid of her drug habit.
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