A WOMAN who caused a persistent nuisance with her criminal behaviour has been jailed.

Nina Caroline Smith, 39, was handed a prison sentence after pleading guilty to a string of thefts, assaults and public order offences in Scarborough.

Smith, of no fixed address, was charged in connection with an assault, a public order offence and shoplifting in March 2019. She was also charged with another incident of shoplifting in April 2019. She was charged in connection with incidents in June 2019 of a public order offence, breaches of bail conditions, shoplifting, assaulting an emergency worker and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

As recently as June 30, 2019, she was arrested in West Square for breaching bail by being in the town centre exclusion zone– an area prohibited by her bail conditions. A knife was found in her possession and she was further arrested for possessing a bladed article.

The following day, Smith appeared at York Magistrates Court. Magistrates told her that her offending was so serious because she had shown “a flagrant disregard for people and their property” – and jailed her for 12 months.

Officers from Scarborough’s Community Impact Team, Investigation Hub and response teams have been dealing with Smith’s behaviour, and its consequences.

PC Tom Wilkinson said: “Smith’s actions have caused disruption and misery to people in Scarborough over many months. The sentence will provide some respite for residents, and allow her to address her offending behaviour.

“This case is a good example of what we can achieve by working together with partner agencies in the Community Impact Team, and the sentence sends a strong message that this kind of behaviour will simply not be tolerated in our communities.”