Woman given '˜benefit of doubt' steals again

A woman who stole even though she was the subject of a suspended sentence for a similar offence was jailed for six months last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.
Craigavon Court House. INLM0311-117gcCraigavon Court House. INLM0311-117gc
Craigavon Court House. INLM0311-117gc

Elaine Pamela Campbell (49), whose address was given as Trasna Way, Lurgan, admitted the theft of a Breville blender valued at £29.50 from Tescos in Lurgan on June 25 this year.

At an earlier court she had also admitted stealing a paint pot and plants, valued at £47.48, from Homebase at Rushmere.

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The court heard that on June 25 Campbell was seen taking a security tag off a box and putting the blender under the carriage of a pram before leaving the store without paying.

On September 16 last year she lifted a pot plant from outside Homebase. A tin of paint which was also taken was never recovered.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court for a pre-sentence report.

A defence barrister said that the court was dealing with an individual with kleptomania who had had probation and suspended sentences in the past.

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The lawyer explained Campbell had long standing mental health issues and was now simply avoiding going shopping.

District Judge, Mrs Bernie Kelly, said it was quite clear from the pre-sentence report and the defendant’s record the offences were to fund another lifestyle. There were a number of drugs offences on her record. The barrister said that this was no longer a problem.

The judge said Campbell had been given the benefit of the doubt in Newry court in on January 20 with a suspended sentence but in June she stole a blender.

“A suspended sentence must mean what it says,” added Judge Kelly.

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For each of the two offences she sentenced the defendant to two months in prison and invoked two months of the suspended sentence.

She made all three sentences consecutive, making a total of six months in prison.

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