A shoplifter who assaulted a police officer and threatened shop staff with scissors has been given a suspended prison sentence and told she won't have to pay £2,000 compensation to the retailers she stole from.
Court hearing details
Former school dinner lady, Gemma Placey, 40, of Thamesmead, southeast London, pleaded guilty to a string of offences at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 4, including 25 counts of theft from a shop, assaulting a police officer and possession of a bladed article.
The court heard Placey lashed out at the officer as police tried to handcuff her during an arrest attempt on June 12. She clambered onto a wall and grabbed hold of railings as she shouted and swore at officers. Prosecutor Mili Matin said despite repeated attempts to reason with her, Placey would not listen and she kicked an officer in the groin.
Incident and arrest
Police had to pepper spray the mother-of-three to subdue her so they could eventually make the arrest, the court heard. Among the string of shoplifting offences she admitted, magistrates heard Nivea Soft moisturiser was among items Placey stole from a shop in Lewisham on March 25.
Background and defence
Janet Lloyd, defending, told the court Placey was sorry and had been in a traumatising downward spiral after her partner had been killed in a case of mistaken identity. Placey’s best friend then died in a car accident, but Ms Lloyd said despite the traumas of the past the defendant had managed to stay out of trouble.
Ms Lloyd said: “But she found herself in a position where she didn’t know how to cope emotionally. It was at this time in her life that someone introduced her to crack cocaine. It was a downward spiral from there. It’s ruined her life.”
The court heard Placey lost her home when her landlord sold the property. She was placed in sheltered accommodation, but it was unsuitable because there were men also staying there. Placey then went to live with her mum, but the court heard there were “tensions” between the two so she moved out. Jobless, she ended up sleeping on friends’ sofas after she was refused housing because of a benefits rule. By August 2024, she was sleeping rough.
Ms Lloyd said it was while Placey was bedding down on the streets that she met a man who initially helped her to navigate life as a homeless person, but he ended up being “very violent” towards her and plied her with drugs. The defence said: “Her routine came to be - wake up, go and shoplift, go and get drugs. If she didn’t play her part, there was ‘pressure’ put on her.”
Ms Lloyd added: “She is not a stupid woman. She is well aware of the downward spiral her life has taken.” Placey brandished scissors at store staff to keep them away from her and did not intend any harm, the court heard.
Sentencing
Her defence explained that Placey has no previous convictions and her background shows she has had no “meaningful” interventions in the past, having not come before the courts before. The bench heard that while her offences were serious, court ordered rehabilitation would provide her with a lifeline as opposed to a custodial sentence.
Magistrate Nigel Taylor told Placey, who wept through part of her trial, that she would not be going to prison. He said in sentencing: “Take that worry away. We’re here to try to assist you, not make your life harder.” Placey was sentenced to six months for possession of a bladed article, three months for shoplifting and three months for assaulting an officer to run concurrently, suspended for 24 months.
Mr Taylor said: “If you commit any other offences in the next 24 months, you will be brought back to court and this sentence will be activated. You’ve got to stay out of trouble for the next two years.” He added: “We have been asked to consider compensation of £2,000. We make no order for compensation because of your lack of means. You won’t be able to pay.”
The defendant will also have to take part in a drug rehabilitation programme and pay a £187 surcharge and £100 court costs.
