A prolific shoplifter stole two expensive coats worth more than £1,000 because she needed money to pay her share of her "wealthy" father's funeral. Camille Brown had long blighted stores across the North East and had racked-up an appalling 101 offences on her record when she decided to prove she had no intention of changing her ways.
Metrocentre thefts
During her latest criminal spree, the 45-year-old targeted two shops in the Metrocentre, in Gateshead, between December last year and February this year. Firstly, she went into Victoria Secrets and made-off with perfume worth £195, a court was told.
Two months later, the crook went into Flannels and helped herself to two jackets, worth £1,549. Clare Haswell, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said: "A manager became aware of a female acting suspiciously."
Discovery of stolen items
"The defendant took items into the changing rooms and took a very long time. The manager made staff aware of the defendant. She then left the store and the security alarm was activated."
"She was stopped and her bag was searched but no stolen items were in there." The court heard that the police were called and Brown was further searched.
The two stolen coats were found hidden in the lining of her puffa jacket with tin foil covering the security tags. The officer then recognised Brown from CCTV footage as being responsible for the Victoria Secrets theft.
Defence and sentence
Gregg Stephens, defending, said Brown had a number of difficulties and had recently undergone treatment for cancer. He added: "Her father died on New Years' Day."
"He was a fit and healthy man serving in the Royal Navy in Morocco. His death was completely out of the blue. Because he was in Morocco, it took several weeks to get him back to the UK."
"Miss Brown was looking to raise money to pay her part of the funeral costs. Her father was a wealthy man and she will inherit a substantial amount in due course."
Brown, of Sandmere Place, in Scotswood, pleaded guilty to two counts of shop theft and was fined £320 and must pay £195 compensation, £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.
