A SHOPLIFTER who stole more than £260 worth of goods failed to turn up to court because she was too drunk.
Laura Penelope Richmond was due to appear in the Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday to face charges of stealing from town centre shops.
The 39-year-old committed the offences in Marks & Spencer in King Street on four separate occasions during February and March and twice from the store’s branch in Liberty Wharf.
She also stole food from Alliance on 7 March.
Richmond admitted the thefts when she appeared in court on Thursday.
When asked by Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu why she had not attended as scheduled the previous day, she said: “I was intoxicated.”
The court also heard that Richmond spat at and kicked the officer who went to find her after her failure to appear.
She pleaded guilty to the charge of assaulting a police officer.
Advocate Mike Preston, defending, said: “She is desperately sorry for her actions yesterday.”
Sentencing was adjourned until 7 June and Richmond was released on bail on the condition that she stays out of pubs, bars and branches of Marks & Spencer and Alliance and only visits other shops to buy food.
