Jail for woman who stole £14 of meat from Worksop supermarket

Emma Reid was spotted by staff at the Asda store, where she is known as a shoplifter, and was detained outside, on February 14.

She told police she planned to sell the meat to pay for bills and food, said prosecutor Robert Carr.

Magistrates heard that she received a suspended sentence, on March 29, 2017, for two offences of theft, which had been extended until June 28 this year.

Rebecca Williams, mitigating, said: “She started abusing drugs after she she lost her six-month-old son. She is taking methadone after using crack cocaine.

“She has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and suffers from panic attacks. When her mental health fails she turns to drugs for assistance. She would like help for her drug use.

“She went into the shop on impulse because she had no money. She is remorseful given that she had been making good progress with the probation service.”

Reid, 37, of Plantation Court, Dinnington, admitted theft when she appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Friday

Magistrates said that custody was justified because of her history of previous offending.

Reid was handed six weeks for breaching the suspended sentence and 12 weeks for the thefts, to run concurrently. She must also pay a £115 government surcharge.