A WORCESTER woman who was jailed after she was caught stealing more than £200 worth of jewellery and groceries from shops in the city blamed her offending on an addiction to shoplifting.

Dawn Whitehead said she believed she was suffering from a genuine medical problem that was driving her to take items from shops and added she had even taken steps to get help from her doctor.

The 49-year-old was caught taking jewellery to the value of £213 from Marks & Spencer, in High Street, Worcester, on Sunday, July 27 before she tried to leave Tesco, St Peter’s Drive, St Peter’s, Worcester, without paying for £37.16 groceries on Saturday, August 9. Whitehead, of Rose Avenue, off London Road, Worcester, admitted two charges of shoplifting, as well as a bail act offence, when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday. That meant she was in breach of a suspended sentence imposed by the court in June.

Leslie Ashton, prosecuting, said Whitehead was observed by security staff on both occasions taking the items and all the goods were recovered by both stores.

Miss Ashton said when police arrested Whitehead after the second incident at Tesco she told them: “This wasn’t planned. I just cannot stop doing it. I’m addicted to theft.” In mitigation Sam Lamsdale said: “She does have a number of convictions for shoplifting offences. She believes she is suffering from some sort of compulsion where she just cannot help herself.”

Miss Lamsdale said Whitehead suffered from depression and bereavement problems after she cared for her mother for 13 years until she died of cancer.

“There is a concern she didn’t have any help with bereavement after losing her mother,” she said.

Miss Lamsdale said Whitehead also suffered a mini-nervous breakdown about 10 years ago and her partner of 30 years said he believed she was showing similar signs of suffering from another one. Miss Lamsdale said Whitehead’s relationship with him was now in jeopardy and added she could also face losing her council house.

“She feels much more nervous about going into custody this time than ever before,” she said.

Magistrates activated the three-month suspended sentence, added another month on for each theft, as well as one week for the bail act offence when she failed to turn up to court on Friday, August 8.

A community order previously put in place will continue once she has been released.