A hapless shop thief targeted the same store four times in two days as she couldn't gain access to her methadone script.
Rachel Best stole a haul of goods from Sainsbury's, in Tynemouth, over a 36-hour period in order to sell for money for drugs. After finally being detained on her fourth theft, the 38-year-old told officers, and later her defence solicitor, that she'd committed the offences as it was the Bank Holiday weekend and she hadn't been able to access her methadone script, a court heard.
However, Best carried out the thefts on June 6 and 7 this year - more than a week after the last Bank Holiday on May 29. The crook, of Crawley Road, in Wallsend, has now been given a community order and banned from entering the Tynemouth branch of Sainsbury's for six months after she pleaded guilty to four counts of shop theft.
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Rob Lawson, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, said a store assistant at Sainsbury's saw Best enter the shop on June 6, fill a bag with goods and exit without paying, grabbing a bottle of wine on her way out. Mr Lawson continued: "CCTV showed the defendant re-enter the store later on the same day at 9.45pm and steal further items.
"The staff were unable to confirm exactly what was taken. On June7, another worker at the store saw the defendant enter the premises and saw her place a large quantity of butter, mince and steaks in a bag and leave without paying. She returned later that day with another person."
The court heard that Best and her pal picked up bottles of laundry liquid and boxes of tablets and tried to leave but Best was detained by a shop worker. The stolen items fell to the floor but the thief managed to grab some of them and make-off. She was later identified and arrested.
John Brown, defending, said: "She tells me it was a long weekend, a Bank Holiday. She's on a script and couldn't get her methadone. She met another lady, who persuaded her to go and steal from shops to get items to sell so they could get drugs."
