Two mums who stole £5,000 worth of sunglasses on two visits to John Lewis and tried their luck a third time have been spared jail because of their children.
Lindsey Jordan, 40 and Paula Richardson, 35, "worked together" on their shoplifting missions, with Richardson stealing the glasses from the Trafford Centre store in Manchester and Jordan acting as a look out and distracting staff.
Their first spree was on April 19 this year, when the pair stole eight pairs of sunglasses worth from £200 to £481 each, and valued at a total of £3,164, Manchester Evening News reports.
Prosecuting, Mr Mark Pritchard told the court how they returned to the same store just three days later on April 22, carrying out "exactly the same operation" where they swiped a further six pairs of sunglasses worth between £298 and £508, with a total value of £2,168.
They then attempted to visit the store on a third occasion, but were detained by security staff.
The £5,332 worth of stolen goods have not been recovered.
Both women pleaded guilty to theft and were handed a suspended sentence for six months at Minshull Street Crown Court by Judge Baxter, who told them she was granting them "a chance" because of "real difficulties" in relation to their children.
The court also heard how Jordan had 26 previous convictions ranging from 2001 and 2011, including shoplifting offences. Richardson has two previous convictions, including one for shoplifting in 2017.
Mitigating, Mr Carville said that both defendants are mothers caring for children, and that Jordan has a child with special needs who requires specialist support.
The court heard how Richardson is a single parent of four children. He said both of them had managed to '"stay out of trouble" for several years and Jordan had written a letter to the judge in relation to her child's circumstances.
Jordan, of Westmoreland Place, Liverpool, and Richardson, of Jason Walk, Liverpool, were sentenced to a six-month suspended sentence, and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Judge Baxter said six months custody was the "appropriate sentence" for theft of these "high value" items, but decided to suspend the sentences to take each woman's children into account.
When sentencing the mums, Judge Baxter said: "This was clearly a joint enterprise in which you both planned together and acted together. You are both mature adults and make your own decisions and knew exactly what you were doing.
"You returned to the shop on three occasions and no doubt thought you were getting away with it. I know I have given you a chance and taken those children into account on this occasion. It won't happen twice."
