Stylist spared jail over theft

Fashion stylist Maria Fusco has been spared a criminal conviction after she pleaded guilty to shoplifting €21 worth of groceries from a supermarket.

The stylist, aged 50, with an address at Leeson Street Upper, in Dublin, was let off when she pleaded guilty yesterday to theft.

She had been charged with stealing €21 worth of groceries from Tesco on Baggot Street, on Aug 21 last, and admitted the offence when she appeared at Dublin District Court.

Judge Hugh O’Donnell heard the goods were recovered in resaleable condition and Ms Fusco, who has no prior convictions, had been “stopped by security staff outside the door”.

Defence solicitor Niall O’Connor told Judge O’Donnell that his client “had paid for other items on the day in question” but “did not have the funds” for the other goods.

He said Ms Fusco is a stylist, but currently she is not working and is in receipt of €188 a week social welfare. The lawyer asked the court to note she had pleaded guilty to the offence and had already had to pay up for having missed an earlier court appearance.

He also said she “is not a lady who would ordinarily comes before the court”.

Judge O’Donnell applied section 11 of the Probation Offenders Act sparing her a criminal record as well as a fine or possible sentence.