By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:17, Wednesday, 31 October 2012

A woman who committed more than 300 crimes has been back in court for shoplifting.

Thirty-four-year-old Theresa Helen Cook admitted taking eight bottles of perfume from TK Maxx – her 77th conviction.

The court heard how she had 322 previous offences.

Cook, of Greengarth, Upperby, pleaded guilty to stealing eight bottles of perfume from the store, on Scotch Street, on October 6.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said she was seen by a store security guard taking packaging and tags off before putting the bottles in her handbag and leaving without paying.

She was stopped outside, Mrs Ward said. The perfume was worth £175.91.

Defence lawyer Geoff Clapp said she needed the money to get a train to visit a friend in prison. She was going to sell the perfume to fund her train fare, he said.

He said she used to steal to pay for a drug habit and to “block-out” some personal issues from her early life but she was now on a methadone scheme to stop her taking heroin.

Mr Clapp told the court that Cook was known by police as a “prolific offender.”

In January, Cook was told by Judge Barbara Forrester that she was on her “last chance” after she stole champagne to settle a drugs debt.

At that time, Carlisle Crown Court heard she had 222 offences on record.

She admitted taking the champagne on December 12 last year, and five bottles of laundry liquid on December 13 from two different Carlisle Co-op stores.

During yesterday’s hearing, magistrates imposed a community order for one year with 40 hours of unpaid work.

She was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 a victim's surcharge of £60. As the goods were returned, no compensation was required.

First published at 12:14, Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk