Co-op meat thief sentenced at Worcester Magistrates Court

Vicki Kirkman, who gave a care of address of Wells Road, Worcester, stole to fund her drug addict city magistrates heard. 

Owen Beale, prosecuting, said Kirkman went into the Co-op store in Barker Street, at 7pm on July 26. 

"She helped herself to items," the prosecutor said. 

"She was reminded by staff she would need to pay for them, but she walked out of the store without doing so."

THIEF: Vicki Kirkman appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Facebook)

Mr Beale said the shoplifter took meat and frozen products worth a total of £66.96. 

Staff reported the theft to police who caught her minutes later, Kirkman telling officers she took the items to sell for money to buy drugs.

The prosecutor added the items were returned to the store within 15 minutes so he was making the assumption Co-op took the decision not to put them back on sale, adding the supermarket would needed to be compensated for the loss. 

Kirkman who admitted the offence of theft from a shop was represented in court by Jason Patel. 

The solicitor explained to magistrates Kirkman had been on a script that was lost to her, causing her to relapse and said that was the reason for her offending that night. 

SHOP: Kirkman stole from Co-op Barker Street (Image: Newsquest)

"She has managed to get her script back in place," Mr Patel told the court. 

"It has been back in place ever since. It is an isolated incident."

The solicitor said Kirkman did have previous convictions but the crime was the first shoplifting offence on her record. 

Mr Patel suggested a conditional discharge as punishment pointing out it would be at the forefront of her mind as it hung over her.

CASE: Kirkman appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)

Kevin Lloyd-Wright, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Kirkman they wanted to make sure she would not offend again while doing right by the supermarket. 

Kirkman was given a six-month conditional discharge explaining to her it meant she would be double punished if she committed another offence in that period. 

MOST READ: Drink driver took works van then abandoned it on central reservation of busy road

MOST READ: Drunk M5 crash driver tried to clean up debris on motorway

"So long as you don't offend in that six months, that will be the end of the matter," the chairman said. 

Kirkman was also ordered to pay £66.96, magistrates agreeing it could be deducted from her benefits. 

The chairman added there would be no order for costs or compensation as magistrates wanted the compensation to be made priority.