A persistent North East shoplifter has been jailed for four months after stealing a vacuum, an angle grinder and a tub of protein powder while subject to a community order.
Jessica Douglas, 33, from Stockton, admitted three shop thefts and breaching her community order at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday.
Details of the thefts
Douglas entered B&Q on Portrack Lane on June 10 and left with an angle grinder. Days earlier, she stole a tub of protein powder from the Protein Superstore, valued at "just shy of £50", according to Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting.
On August 24, she entered B&Q again and "walks out with a vax hoover", Mr Soppitt said. She then sold it at a second-hand shop in Stockton. "She's probably stealing to order," he added.
Previous offences
Douglas had received a community order in February for taking vapes from a market stall. She also stole £46 worth of meat from Asda on Bath Lane and was prevented from leaving JD Sports on Teesside Park with £400 of tracksuits.
As part of her community order, she was required to complete unpaid work and pay a fine. However, the court heard she had failed to attend a number of appointments with the Probation Service.
Court proceedings and sentencing
Her defence barrister, Caoimhe Bicknell, said Douglas did not attend an appointment on October 19 because "her windows had been put through". She added that Douglas had provided sick notes and could not do unpaid work for a substantial period due to anxiety and depression.
Ms Bicknell told the court that Douglas is a registered carer for her partner, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. On August 14, she asked probation if her partner could attend while she carried out her unpaid work. "He's mentally unwell and she didn't want to leave him. It was explained to her that he couldn't," Ms Bicknell said.
Douglas is "addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol", the defence barrister stated. "The nature of the items she's taking - they appear to be things that can be sold on."
Judge Richard Clews told Douglas: "You are unwilling, or unable, to respond to community penalties. You have reoffended. The only possible outcome is a prison sentence."
Douglas, of Hartington Road, was jailed for four months. The judge said: "The likelihood is that you'll serve a maximum of eight weeks - probably less. I am pressing the reset button, so you can start again on a clean slate."
In 2022, Douglas received a suspended prison sentence after striking her sister with a bottle of vodka while staying at her mother's home over Christmas.
