ASDA, Boots and Sainsbury's shoplifter has six months to prove to courts she can change

Phillipa Lake, of Buckle Road, Worcester, was given a rare deferred sentence when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The 36-year-old admitted four theft from a shop charges when they were put to her by the court clerk. 

SHOPLIFTER: Phillip Lake has admitted shoplifting at Worcester Magistrates Court. Stock picture: Getty Images (Image: Getty Images)

Melanie Winterflood, prosecuting, went through the thefts which all took place earlier this year and included:

• Two Amazon Dots and Lol dolls, valued at £300, from ASDA in Worcester on April 25
• Baby items, worth £66, from Boots on May 4
• Meat, washing powder and other items, valued at a total of £175.32 from Sainsbury's on May 17
• Ham and an energy drink, valued at a total of £10, from the Co-operative store in Barker Street, Worcester, on July 3

The prosecutor described all the thefts as "unsophisticated", with her simply placing items in a bag and walking out the store.

Miss Winterflood added none of the items had been recovered. 

The prosecutor said Lake's offending had only begun last year but her previous convictions had included shop thefts. 

SHOPLIFTING: Phillipa Lake stole Amazon Dots from ASDA supermarket (Image: Newsquest)

Mark Turnbull, defending, said: "The issue for her has been misuse of crack cocaine and heroin since April 2020 - that lies at the root."

He explained Lake had been on a methadone script since mid-June, and she had provided negative tests in the week prior to appearing in court. 

Mr Turnbull said he was making the unusual request to give her a deferred sentence.

"You could put Miss Lake on trust for a period of time," Mr Turnbull said. 

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He added the benefit was that, if she complies fully to requirements, she could expect a community order rather than a more serious punishment. 

After deliberations, Susan Mitchell, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Lake they had decided to give her a deferred sentence. 

COURT: Phillipa Lake appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)

The chairman said it would be deferred for six months and in the meantime Lake would need to complete various requirements including she commits no other offences and continues to give negative tests.

"If you don't complete the requirements, you could be back to court sooner," the chairman warned. 

The chairman added Lake should return to the court on March 2 next year, when magistrates would judge how she had got on and what the punishment would be.

The case was heard on Thursday, (September 1).