Woman with 'sack concealed under her skirt' took £1,000 worth of goods in shoplifting spree
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Iosif Codruta (25), of Cushendall Road, Ballymena, committed the thefts on May 28, 2021.
She took clothing worth £325 from the Tommy Hilfiger store; clothing and earrings worth £316 from Next; hand lotion, bags and t-shirts from Menary's; clothing worth £110 from JD Sports; and fragrance and a blanket worth £81 from Semi-Chem.
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Hide AdShe also took food worth £56 from Sainsbury's on October 17, 2022.
The defendant had the assistance of a Romanian language interpreter at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday, February 16.
A prosecutor said when searched in custody the defendant was "found to have a man-made sack concealed underneath her skirt. That sack contained clothing from the Tommy Hilfiger store".
A defence lawyer said the defendant, "a single mother with three young children," is claiming benefits and also working as a part-time cleaner, but at the time of the offences had been struggling financially when she had lost her accommodation and benefits.
The defendant told the court she wished to apologise.
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Hide AdHanding down a six months jail term, suspended for two years, District Judge Nigel Broderick said they were "serious" incidents and the defendant had a previous conviction for another "serious" theft.
The judge warned the defendant that if she continues to shoplift she "will go to prison".
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A destruction order was ordered for a vehicle the defendant was associated with on the date of the Ballymena thefts.