A Swansea couple being sentenced for a string of shoplifting offences began their hearing by having a conversation between themselves while the judge and counsel sat in silence.
As the sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court began on Tuesday morning, Kelly Thomas, 35, who had dialled in via link from HMP Eastwood Park where she was being held on remand, said: "It's my boyfriend! Wagwan?"
Mum-of-four Thomas shouted over the link to partner and fellow defendant Stephen Williams, 35, who had dialled in from another prison: "You're looking well!"
"I've lost weight I have," Williams replied to Thomas while the judge and counsel continued to wait for them to stop talking. Thomas then told the prison officer sitting beside her of Williams: "Aw, I love him I do."
Shoplifting Spree Details
Once under way, the sentencing hearing was told the couple, both of no fixed abode, went on a five-week shoplifting spree in June and July of this year to fund their drug addictions.
Megan Williams, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that the pair had both entered guilty pleas to a number of theft offences at Swansea Magistrates' Court. On July 7 Thomas pleaded guilty to 10 offences and Williams to 15 offences.
The court heard that the couple had committed offences both individually and together at a number of shops in Brynhyfryd, Swansea. Ms Williams said all the offences were of a similar nature, and on each occasion they had walked into shops in the middle of the day, placed items in carrier bags, and then walked out without paying.
Offence Timeline and Totals
Ms Williams said the first offence took place on June 6 when Williams stole £94.55 worth of washing up products from a Tesco Express in Swansea. The following day he stole meat from a OneStop and three hours later him and Thomas went to a Tesco Express where they stole just over £200 worth of chocolate.
On June 8 Williams stole £207 worth of meat from Aldi and later that day stole £89 worth of washing up products and chocolate from the Co-op. The day after that both of them went back to the same Co-op and stole £90 of cleaning products before returning to the Aldi two hours later where they stole £225 of meat.
On June 10 they stole another £80 of meat from the Co-op and three days later they went back to the OneStop and stole £266 worth of meat and cheese. On June 14 Williams went back to the same store and stole £142 of laundry detergent and cheese.
Ms Williams then detailed how on June 21 Thomas and Williams went back to the same OneStop store and stole £56 of laundry products. On July 4 they then stole £121 of coffee and cleaning products and two days later stole a further £76 worth of laundry products but were stopped by the manager before they left.
The store manager phoned the police and they were arrested outside the shop. In total, Ms Williams said Thomas stole just over £1,400 worth of items and Williams stole £2,062 worth of items.
Background and Sentencing
Williams had 55 previous convictions for a total of 154 offences, 96 of which were theft related matters. Williams' first theft from a shop offence was committed in February 2003 when he was 19. Thomas had eight previous convictions for 29 offences but had no convictions before 2024. During a police interview Thomas told officers she was stealing in order to fund her drug addiction.
Sarah John, representing Thomas, told the court that up until 2024 her client had largely stayed out of trouble. Ms John said Thomas had resorted to shoplifting after she left prison and couldn't fund her substance dependency. Ms John said that for the first time since her life had taken a downwards spiral, Thomas was committed to changing her lifestyle and said her biggest motivation is her four children who she wants to be a role model for.
Alexandra Wilson, representing Williams, said there had been periods in her client's adult life where he had been able to stay out of trouble. However, since 2024 Ms Wilson said Williams' mental health had not been in a good place and he had resorted to stealing to maintain his drug habit.
Judge Catherine Richards said it was in her judgement that they had been stealing in order to sell the items on. She said the thefts had impacted on staff morale and would have a negative impact on the local community when extra security measures needed to be taken.
Williams was sentenced to 14 months in prison. He will serve up to 40% in custody and serve the remainder on licence. He was also ordered to pay a statutory surcharge which must be paid within three months of his release from custody. Thomas was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to attend 20 rehabilitation requirement days and participate in a drug rehabilitation requirement for 12 months.
When the hearing ended the couple could be heard shouting "love you" to one another through the courtroom video link. Williams told Thomas: "Keep to it for the kids so they are there when I get out." Thomas could then be heard celebrating, saying: "Yes, I'm getting out. Wooo!"
