Caroline Pattinson, a 47-year-old career criminal with 300 offences, has been fined for stealing £457-worth of chocolate, coffee, meat and washing tablets from Morrisons. She committed the thefts after her Universal Credit was sanctioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) due to missed appointments caused by her cancer treatment.
Details of the thefts
Pattinson, of Waverley Road in Elswick, pleaded guilty to three counts of shop theft at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. The offences took place on October 11 and November 4 last year, and on February 12 this year. She was accompanied by a co-accused, said prosecutor Jade Houston.
Defence and sentencing
Neil Connell, defending, revealed that Pattinson had been diagnosed with stage three cancer and was receiving chemotherapy. He said: "She's on Universal Credit and does have a record. Historically, the reason for her offending was addiction to drugs. Due to her ongoing cancer treatment, she is drug-free. However, she has missed appointments with the DWP when she's been in hospital and that has led to her benefits being sanctioned and that's why she stole."
The court fined Pattinson £200 and ordered her to pay £248.50 in compensation. Pattinson was previously jailed alongside her daughter for stealing from vulnerable victims and has a history of blighting shops across the North East.
