Woman tried to shoplift 135 items in trolley two days after judge’s warning

Two days after being warned by a judge about stealing, a Limerick woman tried to wheel a trolley packed with 135 items from a Dunnes Stores outlet without paying, a court heard.

Adriana Williams, a 32-year-old mother-of-one, from Castletroy View, Limerick, was brought before Limerick Circuit Court yesterday when the State sought to activate two, suspended sentences she had for shoplifting.

Sgt Donal Cronin said on Dec 12 last, Williams stole toys worth €671 from Smiths Toy store and the following day she stole toys worth €1,625 from the same store.

On May 22 last she went to the University Hospital Limerick and stole a wallet which contained €190 in cash.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly recalled that on that date Williams asked not to be sent to prison, because there were certain things she had to do. He agreed not to imprison her and warned her she was heading to jail if she persisted with theft crimes.

However, two days later she went into a Dunnes Stores outlet in the city and loaded a trolley with 135 items worth €1,722.

As she tried to leave without paying, she was stopped by store security personnel.

Ted McCarthy, solicitor for the accused, said she had suffered a number of miscarriages and had become very depressed. She was on prescribed medication when the Dunnes Stores offence occurred and had very little recollection of what she had done, but made full admissions.

Judge O’Kelly activated two suspended sentences totalling 12 months and added on a third, three-month term for the theft of money from a person in Limerick University Hospital.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.