A judge has ordered a probation report into a young Co Donegal woman who went on a shoplifting spree over a three year period.
Theresa Stokes has pleaded guity to stealing goods from a number of premises across Ireland including LIDL, Boots, Heatons, TK Maxx, TEMPEST in Donegal as well as a number of locally-owned shops in Waterford.
Letterkenny District Court heard how the 23 year old mother-of-two stole bed linen, shoes, groceries and clothing during the shoplifting spree.
On one occasion she even had her hair done at a Letterkenny hairdressing salon and left her purse in there, claiming she was going outside to get her laser card from her car.
However when she went outside the premsises she fled and the owner of the premises found there was nothing in the purse.
On another occasion she was caught stealing more than €500 worth of make-up products from Boots Chemist in Letterkenny.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said Stokes of 7 Gaeltex, Letterkenny had been brought up from an early age to steal goods.
“It was a lifestyle to her. She was under the influence of others. Most of us start of life at a certain rung of the ladder but she started at the very bottom rung of that ladder,” he said.
However he said she had been through a lot, had been married at an early age but the marriage had broken up.
But Judge Paul Kelly said he did not accept any excuses.
“She is a premeditated, calculated, systematic thief. There was a string of warrants but she appeared to go on happily continuing her thefts,” said Judge Kelly.
He adjourned the case until September for a probation report but warned Stokes not to come before the courts before then or she could face a ‘severe punishment’.
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