A former university lecturer in criminology, who famously branded herself 'the UK's poshest thief', has once again escaped an immediate prison sentence following her most extensive shoplifting campaign to date, involving luxury alcohol worth nearly £12,000.
The 'Campaign' Against Sainsbury's
Pauline Al Said, 35, targeted Sainsbury's supermarkets in a series of thefts over several months, stealing high-value bottles of vodka, gin, prosecco, and wine. Southampton Crown Court heard that her latest spree resulted in goods totalling £11,964 being taken.
The ex-lecturer, who previously worked at Bath Spa University, employed deliberate tactics to conceal her thefts. Prosecutors described how she would place items like 'Disney dresses and dressing gowns' into her trolley to hide expensive spirits underneath. On one occasion, after stealing 32 bottles of alcohol worth £798, she even visited the store's café to read a newspaper she had also taken.
A Pattern of High-Value Theft
This is not Al Said's first encounter with notoriety. She initially gained the 'poshest thief' moniker after she and her then-husband, Mark Wheatcroft, stole over £1,000 worth of Le Creuset cookware, steaks, wine, and gin from premium retailers.
The recent nine-month campaign against Sainsbury's involved multiple visits. Security staff noted large gaps on alcohol shelves and reviewed CCTV, which captured Al Said filling her trolley. On June 26, 2024, alone, she stole over £2,000 worth of goods, using two trolleys to navigate the store.
Prosecutor Peter Shaw stated the stolen items were sold to fund her drug addiction. Al Said was also implicated in a further alleged theft of £2,200 with her co-defendant, Mr Wheatcroft, who has pleaded not guilty.
Suspended Sentence and Rehabilitation
Despite the scale of the thefts, Judge Gary Lucie decided to suspend a prison term. He sentenced Al Said to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered her to complete 28 rehabilitation activity days.
She was also instructed to repay Sainsbury's £1,800 – roughly 15% of the total value stolen – and has been banned from all Sainsbury's stores for 18 months.
In mitigation, her defence counsel, Emily Jarrod, told the court Al Said was a 'highly, highly educated woman' who had turned a corner. She cited the end of a 'toxic relationship' with Wheatcroft, new work as a life coach, and reconciled family ties as signs of progress. Judge Lucie acknowledged her genuine remorse and potential for good.
Al Said, who is originally from Poland and moved to Southampton in 2007, has publicly attempted to rebrand as a life coach, offering online advice to help others 'start living a life that feels as good as it looks'.
