A 76-year-old great-gran has been left with a criminal record “like a teenage heroin addict” after going on a four year shoplifting spree – because she was BORED.
Light-fingered June Humphreys travelled around using her free bus pass pocketing hundreds of pounds worth of goods by swiping them off shelves and hiding them in her shopping trolley.
Magistrates heard the pensioner would target stores across Staffordshire and Cheshire and stole items such as clothes, alcohol and even a BREAST PUMP.
But after she was caught red-handed on January 6 this year the OAP told officers she had embarked on her crime-wave because she needed to “fill her time” as she lived alone.
On Monday Humphreys was hauled before North Staffordshire Justice Centre where she admitted a string of thefts.
After arriving for court pushing her trolley Humphreys pleaded guilty to stealing from four shops in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., on the same day.
But she walked free after being sentenced to one month in prison suspended for a year and was warned if she shoplifts again she will be sent to jail.
JPs were told the mum-of-seven had previous convictions for shop theft in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and January this year.
Her probation officer Darren Vernon told the court: “She has travelled around Staffordshire and Cheshire on public transport and committed offences.
“She knows what she is doing is wrong, she says she is bored and needs to fill her time.
“The main reason for her doing this is boredom. She lives alone.
“She has seven children but the only one she has contact with lives above her.
“She has acquired the record of a heroin addict in his late teens.”
The court heard she nicked confectionery worth £2 from Iceland, baby clothes worth £69 from BHS, baby clothes worth £24.98 from B & M, and a breast pump from Boots.
Humphreys, from Crewe, Cheshire, also admitted stealing alcohol, coffee and confectionery worth £30.42 from Aldi and two pairs of boots worth £94.50 on December 18.
The court heard Humphreys’ offending took her on a journey of over 100 miles as far as Leek, Macclesfield, Stafford, Whitchurch and Stoke-on-Trent.
Prosecutor Giles Rowden said: “The defendant has convictions for shop theft in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and on January 14 this year she was fined for shop theft at West Cheshire Magistrates.”
The court recommended she was given one last chance after hearing the pensioner was being treated for breast cancer and also suffered from osteoarthritis.
Andrew Bennett, defending, added: “My client does not want to go to prison.
“She wants to stop doing this.
“She wants to stop stealing from shops.”
JPs revoked a community order which had previously been imposed for theft but ordered her to pay £45 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
