Woman armed with pliers stole vibrators and clothes

A Limerick woman travelled to Cork with a pliers and de-tagger and went on to steal hundreds of euro worth of clothes from retail outlet River Island, as well as two vibrators from a lingerie store.

The crimes described by Inspector Joe O’Connor at Cork District Court yesterday were carried out on Nov 27, 2013.

30-year-old Sonia Aylmer was back in Cork yesterday for a court appearance where she pleaded guilty to three charges arising out of her last day trip to Cork.

Aylmer, from Ballynanty Avenue, Limerick, pleaded guilty to having in her possession a de-tagger and a pliers with the intention of using them in the commission of a theft.

She admitted stealing €370 worth of clothing from River Island on St Patrick’s Street, Cork.

Aylmer also pleaded guilty to stealing two vibrators from the Ann Summers shop on Princes St.

Defence solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, told the court that Aylmer had no previous convictions.

Mr Kelleher said she was in a desperate situation in her life with chronic financial problems and that this desperation prompted her to resort to theft.

Judge Leo Malone said: “Some of these stolen items could not be described as necessities.”

The judge went on to comment on the premeditation involved in coming to town armed with tools that would enable her to cut the magnetic tags from items in shops.

Mr Kelleher said the element of premeditation could not be denied.

Judge Malone imposed an overall sentence of six months, but he said that because of the absence of previous convictions he would suspend this jail term.