South Shields woman's £1,000 triple shop raid

 Magistrates in South Shields heard Stacey Lonsdale, 31, targeted Wilkinson’s, in Market Place, South Shields, on September 4 and 5.

 Lesley Burgess, presecuting, said: “She was seen entering the store at 1pm on September 4. She put a quantity of make-up into a bag, then selected a drink before going to the self-service checkouts. She only paid for the drink before leaving the store.

 “At 3.20pm the same day, she entered the same store and did the same thing again. Lonsdale was identified by another retailer after her details were circulated through the Shop Watch scheme.

 “It later emerged she had also stolen cosmetics from Wilkinson’s the day before her two visits.”

 Lonsdale, of Beach Road, South Shields, was arrested four days later.

 Ms Burgess added: “That was when she visited the shop again. Wilkinson’s estimate their total loss from all the thefts to be £1,000.”

 Lonsdale admitted theft on September 4, two offences of theft on September 5, and she admitted being in breach of a conditional discharge imposed for earlier offences of theft.

 Catherine Farrell, defending, said: “Ms Lonsdale is not a well woman. She has a leg infection and problems with drugs use, spending about £20 or £30 a day on her habit.

 “Her health difficulties and this case has caused her to question the life she is leading, and she has sought help with her problems.”

 Lonsdale was give a 12-month community order, including a drug rehabilitation requirement, and 30 days of rehabilitation activity.

She was ordered to observe a 7pm to 7am curfew for seven days, and ordered to pay £200 compensation to Wilkinson’s.