'This is not stealing for subsistence': Judge jails Cork woman for shoplifting

Meat products, groceries, electronic items, curtains and bedclothes were among the items targeted

The judge imposed a six-month prison term for a litany of shoplifting offences. File picture

Meat products were among the items targeted by a woman carrying out shoplifting offences around Cork City and now she has been jailed for six months.

Judge David Waters imposed this sentence on Sandra Robinson of St John’s Terrace, World’s End, Kinsale, County Cork, at Cork District Court.

“This is targeted theft of high-value items, it is not stealing for subsistence,” Judge Waters said.

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said the 34-year-old woman from Bandon had a good start in life, did very well in her Leaving Cert and went to the UK with her partner where she worked as a healthcare assistant for six years.

Mr Kelleher said the young woman was traumatised by grief when her brother died in an accident on a holiday in Portugal, and she had “a complete breakdown”.

At this time she encountered heroin and she ended up getting into trouble as a result. Her aim now is to stay off heroin and return to the UK and get her life back together.

Noting that she had previously received a number of suspended sentences in the past, Judge Waters said the time for suspended sentences had passed. He imposed a six-month prison term for a litany of shoplifting offences.

On March 18 at HMV at Merchants Quay she stole €120 worth of electronic items. On September 13 she stole selected meat products form Tesco, Paul Street, Cork.

On September 24 she stole €84 worth of meat at Tesco Express, South Main Street. On September 29 she stole curtains and bedclothes valued €230 at Next on Opera Lane. 

She stole €50 groceries from Tesco, Mahon Point shopping centre on October 4. On October 9 at Marks and Spencer she stole €185 worth of meat.