A drunk thief threatened to throw acid over shop staff while holding a jar of "yellow liquid" that she claimed to be the corrosive substance.
Gemma Hall was in the process of stealing goods from Farm Foods, in Blyth, when she was caught in the act and confronted by the store's security team. But, instead of giving up the items and apologising, the serial crook shouted "I have acid, I'm going to throw it in your face" whilst holding a jar of yellow liquid, a court was told.
The threats resulted in the staff backing off and Hall escaped with £15-worth of laundry detergent. However, the 32-year-old's shoplifting spree didn't stop there, as she went on to target a B&M store on two occasions and Asda on one.
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Hall, of Salisbury Street, in Blyth, was arrested and pleaded guilty to four counts of shop theft and one of common assault when she appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court earlier this year. Her case was adjourned for sentence and she was due back at the same court last month but failed to show and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Whilst police made attempts to track her down, Hall went on to steal from Wilko and the Spar, both in Blyth. This time, she made off with a total of £108-worth of laundry products and booze.
The thief was finally arrested and appeared in the dock in custody this week to plead guilty to two further shop theft offences. She was given a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay a total of £300.97 in compensation to the stores she stole from.
Prosecutor, Gurjot Kaur, said Hall first targeted Farm Foods, in Blyth, on September 29 last year and stole £15-worth of laundry detergent. Ms Kaur continued: "A staff member and her colleagues confronted the defendant and she shouted "I have acid, I'm going to throw it in your face". She was holding a jar containing a yellow liquid and the victim believed the threat."
The court was told that, a few days later on October 3 and 8, Hall went into B&M, also in Blyth, and helped herself to booze worth a total of £150. Then, on November 8, she stole a further £28-worth of alcohol from Asda.
Having pleaded guilty to those offences and having failed to turn up for her sentencing hearing, Hall went on to steal £78-worth of laundry detergent from Wilko on February 9 this year and three bottles of wine, worth £29.97, from the Spar.
Magistrates were told that Hall had 27 offences on her record, was on a conditional discharge at the time and was last convicted of shoplifting in June last year. She was also on bail when two of the latest offences were committed.
Paul Kennedy, defending, said the yellow liquid Hall was carrying was actually cider. He added: "Her offending is alcohol-related. There are periods of her life when she is offence-free and isn't drinking alcohol but, when the pressure hits her, she goes back to drinking alcohol. She is motivated to be rehabilitated."
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