Serial shoplifting mum told to sort her life out and get clean of heroin by judge

District Judge Paul Currer told Katie Dickinson, 23, of Iona Road, Jarrow, she needed to prioritise her own wellbeing instead of stealing to satisfy her craving for the illegal drug.

He told Dickinson, who appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to admit a string of thefts from retailers: “You don’t particularly care what happens to you or what goes on.

“I suggest that’s because all you care about is where you get your next heroin from.

“You deserve a nice existence, you need to think about putting yourself first and not heroin. This is what everyone who is dealing with you wants you to do.”

The court heard Dickinson stole detergents, valued at £53, from the Morrisons in Ocean Road, South Shields, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

She also swiped £58 of women’s underwear from New Look on Tuesday, July 23, and £82 of cosmetics from Boots, both in Newcastle, on Friday, September 20.

Dickenson pleaded guilty to all three charges at an earlier hearing, and it was said she had also committed four thefts in July 2019 for which she had already been sentenced.

In March 2018, she had also admitted to being in possession of heroin and going equipped, the court was told.

As well as the latest thefts, Dickinson pleaded guilty to failing to comply with terms of a community order, imposed by the same court on March 13 last year.

She did so by failing to attend required office appointments with the Probation Service on August 9 and August 16.

The hearing was told her problems with heroin created her criminality – and that she was in desperate need of support but had so far failed to fully engage.

Val Bell, defending, admitted her client had committed two of her latest thefts while serving a 12-month suspended sentence, imposed in July 2018.

Judge Currer handed Dickinson a 24-month community order with a requirement of 30 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service.

She must also pay a £90 victim surcharge and a £5 fine.

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